FC Bayern Women have agreed a contract extension with midfielder Momoko Tanikawa until 30 June 2029. The 20-year-old Japan international arrived in Munich in January 2024. After a year-long loan to Swedish first division club Rosengård, Tanikawa returned to Bayern at the beginning of 2025. Since then, she's celebrated winning the league and cup double with FCB Women, as well as the Supercup victory at the start of this season.
Rech: "Watching her play football is great fun"
Bianca Rech, FC Bayern director of women's football: "There was never a question of whether we wanted to extend Momoko Tanikawa's contract. We were fully aware of her development potential since her first day in Munich. Momoko has shown what she's capable of in the last few weeks and months in particular and is giving us a lot of joy. Her style of play is special: she has an incredibly fine technique on the ball and sees things not everyone sees on the pitch. Watching her play football is great fun."
Tanikawa: "I really feel at home in the team"
Momoko Tanikawa: "I'm very happy and looking forward to the coming years in Munich. Since my arrival, I've really felt at home in the team and was warmly welcomed right from the start. It gives me great pleasure to be part of this team. Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world and it#s a great honour for me to wear this jersey. In the future, I want to continue to show my qualities, constantly improve and be successful with the team so we win lots of trophies with the club."
Top talent from Japan
As an 18-year-old youth talent, Tanikawa, who grew up in Aichi Prefecture, moved from the JFA Academy, the Japan Football Association's youth programme, to the Bavarian capital in early 2024. After a successful loan spell at Rosengård, for whom she scored 19 goals in 24 games, she returned to FC Bayern Women in early 2025. The 20-year-old made her competitive debut for the reigning double winners on 9 February in a 3-1 away win at Hoffenheim. Since then, the Japan native has made 27 appearances for FCB, scoring seven goals. She made her debut for the Japan senior national team on 14 July 2023 in a 5-0 win over Panama.
We take a closer look at wha Tanikawa brings to the team:
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