Manchester United sign World Cup top scorer Miyazawa to boost WSL hopes | OneFootball

Manchester United’s hopes of challenging for the Women’s Super League title have been bolstered by the arrival of the World Cup Golden Boot winner, Hinata Miyazawa.

The midfielder scored five goals in four games for Japan during this summer’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand and has now swapped her homeland’s Mynavi Sendai for United.

“I am truly very happy to be part of this wonderful family and this great team,” said Miyazawa, who is moving to the club on a long-term deal. “I am really looking forward to getting started and hope my style of play will excite our fans.”

United’s manager, Marc Skinner, appeared equally delighted with his fourth signing of a busy summer in which Manchester United rejected a reputed world record bid for their England goalkeeper Mary Earps from an unnamed club. “Hinata joins our United family having proven her qualities at the highest level,” said Skinner.

“As her Golden Boot win at this summer’s Women’s World Cup has shown, she will excite our fantastic fans with her direct style of play and her ability to find the most dangerous spaces. We cannot wait to see her develop even further within our playing squad.”

The 23-year-old has been capped 28 times by Japan, scoring nine times for her country and playing a key role in their run to the quarter-finals of this summer’s tournament.

The WSL transfer window closes on 14 September and the new season kicks off on Sunday 1 October, when Miyazawa is expected to make her Manchester United debut at Aston Villa.