Oyama an ‘exciting player for the future’, says Taylor   | OneFootball

Gareth Taylor says Manchester City can be excited by the acquisition of Aemu Oyama.

The Japan youth international has become our latest January signing in a deal which will keep her at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2027.

She arrives at the Club with a growing buzz in her homeland around the heights she could reach as her career progresses.

This is, in part, due to her exploits on the in the national stage where she helped Nadeshiko’s Under-16s to the AFC U16 Women’s Championship in 2019 before reaching the 2022 and 2024 U20 Women’s World Cup final.

And the Blues boss believes the environment at City will best help Oyama to develop but reaffirmed his desire not to apply too much pressure on the 20-year-old to immediately deliver.

“We’ve been really excited about Aemu,” he said.

WATCH: Oyama details ambitions after City arrival

“She’s very intelligent and similar to Yui [Hasegawa] in a sense of she helps the players around her with and without the ball.

“It’s an exciting player for the future and we have to realise of course she’s very young. She’s still 20 and has a very good reputation.

“We’ve seen enough of Aemu to have high belief that given the right platform to perform, grow and develop, she’s going to do really well for this team.”

The signing of Oyama represents our second this window after German defender Rebecca Knaak arrived on New Year’s Day following a hugely successful spell at Rosengard.

Both acquisitions came after the appointment of Therese Sjogran as Director of Football who, reporting to Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill, has worked closely with Taylor to assist a number of departments including recruitment.

The Swede officially started her position on 1 December, and the boss says the relationship has worked well so far.

And he hinted at further business being conducted at City before the January window slams shut.

He added: “It’s been good and it’s been a positive so far.

“There’s still a couple of weeks left in the window, and we’re pushing to try and help and support the team a little more which will give us improved options.

“Because then when players return from injury, as you’re pretty certain there will be a couple of injuries throughout the season, the more options and quality depth we have. That is going to help the team for sure.

“Particularly when it comes down to the nitty gritty of these competitions we’re going really deep into.”