East Bengal women’s team signs Japanese defender Hitomi Tanaka

Japanese defender Hitomi Tanaka has played six years in Spain for various clubs. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media

East Bengal women’s team has signed Japanese defender Hitomi Tanaka ahead of its upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League group stage campaign.

The Yokohama-born player joins the ‘Moshal Girls’ from the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen side Hera United Women and becomes the first-ever Japanese female footballer to join an Indian club.

Primarily a defender, Tanaka can also be deployed as a midfielder. Before joining Hera United, she played six years in Spain for clubs such as CD Alba FF, Córdoba CF, CD Santa Teresa, Cacereño Femenino, SE AEM and Sporting Club de Huelva.

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Reacting to the move, Tanaka said, “I am honoured and excited to join East Bengal FC, a club with such a rich legacy and passionate fanbase. Playing in the AFC Women’s Champions League for the best South Asian club is a prestigious challenge, and I am ready to give my absolute best to help the team succeed and make our supporters proud on the continental stage.”

The two-time Indian Women’s League champion will face Ho Chi Minh City WFC (Vietnam), Hwacheon KSPO WFC (Korea Republic) and 4.25 SC (DPR Korea) in the Group B matches in Kolkata between 1st November and 7th November 2026.