Saori Takarada

Saori Takarada
Personal information
Full name	Saori Takarada
Date of birth	27 December 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth	Tateyema, Toyama, Japan
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Leicester City
Number	15
Senior career*
Years	Team
2013–2020	Cerezo Osaka Sakai
2021	Washington Spirit
2022–2023	Linköpings FC
2024–	Leceister City
International career‡
2016	Japan U-17
2018	Japan U-20
2019–	Japan
Medal record
Representing Japan
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
AFC U-16 Women's Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:38, 17 August 2024 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:20, 10 December 2023 (UTC)

Saori Takarada (宝田沙織, Takarada Saori, born 27 December 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Japan national team. She previously played for Cerezo Osaka Sakai, Washington Spirit, and Linköpings FC.

Early life

Takarada was born in Toyama Prefecture on 27 December 1999.^{[citation needed]}

Club career

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies

In 2013, Takarada joined Nadeshiko League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai. She scored 44 goals in 110 appearances for the club and helped the club gain promotion to the top flight of the Nadeshiko League in 2019. During the 2019 season, Takarada scored 2 goals in 18 appearances for Cerezo and helped the team to a fourth-place finish. She played both as a forward and as a midfielder for Cerezo.^[2]^[3]

Washington Spirit

On 1 December 2020, Takarada signed a contract with the Washington Spirit for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Her Japanese national team teammate Kumi Yokoyama signed with the Spirit in 2019. Takarada reported to the Spirit's preseason training camp in February 2021.^[4]

Linköping FC

On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Takarada would transfer to the Swedish Damalsvenskan club Linköping FC.^[5]

Leicester City

On 8 December 2023, it was announced that Takarada would sign a pre-contract with Women's Super League club Leicester City.^[6] She made her competitive debut for the club on 14 January 2024 in the fourth round of the FA Cup tie against Derby County.^[7] She scored her first competitive goal for the club on 11 February 2024 in a FA Cup match against Birmingham City^[8]

International career

Youth

In 2016, Takarada was named to the Japan U-17 national team roster for the 2016 U-17 World Cup. She played in 5 matches and scored 2 goals,^[9] helping Japan to a 2nd place finish.

In 2018, Takarada played for the Japan U-20 national team at the 2018 U-20 World Cup.^[10] She played in all 6 matches and scored 5 goals and recorded 3 assists. Takarada scored the game-winning goal for Japan in the tournament final against Spain, leading Japan to the championship. She earned the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot for her performance in the tournament. Takarada also won the 2018 Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2018.^[3]

Senior

Takarada was named to the Japanese national team for the 2019 World Cup after Riko Ueki withdrew due to injury in May 2019.^[11] She served as a substitute for Japan during the World Cup, appearing in three of Japan's four games.^[3]^[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup^[a]		League cup^[b]		Continental^[c]		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cerezo Osaka Sakai	2013	Nadeshiko Challenge League	21	2	1	0	—		—		22	2
	2014	Nadeshiko Challenge League	21	0	0	0	—		—		21	0
	2015	Nadeshiko Challenge League	18	9	0	0	—		—		18	9
	2016	Nadeshiko League 2	14	7	1	0	8	3	—		23	10
	2017	Nadeshiko League 2	18	22	2	1	9	7	—		29	30
	2018	Nadeshiko League	18	4	2	1	8	0	—		28	5
	2019	Nadeshiko League 2	15	10	0	0	6	4	—		21	14
	2020	Nadeshiko League	18	2	3	0	—		—		21	2
	Total		143	56	9	2	31	14	—		183	72
Washington Spirit	2021	National Women's Soccer League	10	0	—		3	0	—		13	0
Linköping FC	2022	Damallsvenskan	25	3	3	0	—		—		28	3
	2023	Damallsvenskan	26	2	4	1	—		2	0	32	3
	Total		51	5	7	1	—		2	0	60	6
Leicester City	2023–24	Women's Super League	12	1	4	1	1	0	—		17	1
Career total			216	61	20	4	35	14	2	0	273	79