FC Bayern Women have signed Momoko Tanikawa. The 18-year-old Japan international previously played at the JFA Academy, the Japan Football Association’s youth programme. The attacking midfielder will at first be loaned out to Rosengard in Sweden until the summer.
Tanikawa: “I’ve known about Bayern since I was a little girl”
Tanikawa spent a week in summer 2023 training with Die Frauen. She returned to Munich at the start of January to sign her contract with the champions of Germany. “I’m excited and very grateful to be able to play for this great club in the future. I’ve known about Bayern since I was a little girl, and when the offer came in from Munich, I was so happy. I had other options, but when Bayern got in touch, it was a quick decision.”
De Sá Fardilha: “One of the best young players in the world”
Francisco De Sá Fardilha, FC Bayern Women technical director: “Momoko Tanikawa is one of the best young players in the world. She’s already a big part of the Japan national team, one of the best teams in the world. Momoko is technically very versatile, is two-footed. She knows how she can come out on top against top players and is very flexible in her position. Although she’s an attacking midfielder, she can play in any position up front, including as a centre-forward.”
Alexander Straus: “We’ve very happy to have signed Momoko Tanikawa. We’ve had an eye on her for a long time. She trained with us for a week last year, and there was no doubt. She’s one of the best young players in women’s football, and it’ll be our job to accompany her on her journey and to help her develop. She’ll take her first steps in European football over the coming months in Scandinavia, and then we’re excited for when she strengthens our team in the summer.”
Bayern Women are at a training camp in Spain:
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