Japan attacker and Women's World Cup Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa is set to join Manchester United in the English Women's Super League, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
The 23-year-old will join several of her Nadeshiko Japan teammates in the English top flight, including Manchester City midfielder Yui Hasegawa who on Tuesday was named in the team of the year for the 2022-2023 season by the Professional Footballers' Association.
Miyazawa, who has been with Mynavi Sendai in Japan's WE League since 2021, netted five goals to lead the goal-scoring list at the World Cup played this summer in New Zealand and Australia.
She struck a double against Spain in Japan's final group-stage game to help her team thump the eventual champions 4-0 before they went out in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 loss to Sweden.
Making her tournament debut, Miyazawa became the second Japanese player to score the most goals at a Women's World Cup, matching 2011 tournament-winning captain Homare Sawa who scored five goals in Germany.
Miyazawa is expected to arrive at Manchester United in the coming days, the source said. United finished runners-up behind champions Chelsea last season and will play in the Champions League in the coming season.
Hasegawa, meanwhile, made the WSL team of the year for the first time after enjoying a solid season in the middle of the park following her move from West Ham last summer.
The 26-year-old was honored alongside Manchester City teammates, defender Alex Greenwood and forward Khadija Shaw, as well as Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly who won the player of the year award.
