TOTTENHAM have signed Mana Iwabuchi from Arsenal with the playmaker switching to the club on a temporary deal.
The Japan midfielder, 29, has joined the team for the rest of this season having made three appearances in the top tier so far this term.
Iwabuchi’s January move follows Spurs’ swoop for Bethany England this month in a bid to boost their attacking threat.
The former Chelsea striker wasted no time in proving her scoring capabilities.
She netted on her debut during her new side’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa away last time out.
Iwabuchi, who will wear Spurs’ number 20 shirt, could be in line to make her first appearance for Rehanne Skinner’s side when they take on Leicester City on Sunday.
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Of her temporary switch, the attacking midfielder who began her senior playing career at Japanese side Nippon TV Beleza in 2007, said: “Rehanne told me about the club’s ambitions, so I’m very excited to join this journey.
“Now I’m a Spurs player I try to do my best.”
Iwabuchi first moved to the Women’s Super League in December 2020 when she joined Aston Villa from German top-flight side Bayern Munich.
During her stint with the Frauen Bundesliga outfit the playmaker won the top tier title in Germany in the 2014-15 season.
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At the time the team also included Vivianne Miedema who played for Bayern from 2014 to 2017 prior to her Arsenal move.
Other current WSL stars who also played for the German giants include Tottenham goalkeeper Tinja-Riika Korpela and midfielder Ramona Petzelberger.
In addition to being reunited with the duo, Iwabuchi’s loan will also see her back in the same club squad as her former Villa team-mate Asmita Ale.
Iwabuchi, who helped Japan to a memorable World Cup win in 2011, has made 85 senior appearances for her country netting 37 goals.
The forward, who is considered to be one of the WSL’s best playmakers, will no doubt be hoping to see more game time for the rest of this season.
So far this term in the top-flight made three appearances from the substitutes bench.
Tottenham will hope their move for Iwabuchi will boost their creative flair in the final third with the club hoping to rack up more goals and wins in the league.
The team, who finished fifth last term, are currently eighth having lost four of their last five games across all competitions.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
