Leicester City midfielder Takarada to re-join Cerezo Osaka | OneFootball

Leicester City midfielder Saori Takarada will re-join Japanese WE League club Cerezo Osaka when her contract expires at the end of the month.

The Foxes announced the news via a post on their official club X account this evening.

The 25-year-old Japanese international will move on after spending the last 18 months at The King Power Stadium.

The 2024/2025 season was a campaign which saw Leicester City heavily hit by injuries, however, Takarada remained in good shape and was able to feature in every Barclays Women’s Super League fixture for the club. In total, the midfielder has made more than 40 appearances for The Foxes in her time in England.

With Takarada out of contract at Leicester City this summer, the player has deemed it to be the right time to move on. She has agreed a return to Cerezo Osaka, the club where she initially started out on her professional footballing journey more than a decade ago.

Speaking to Cerezo Osaka’s official media team after her return to the club was revealed, Takarada said “First of all, let me say that I’m pleased to be back. I’ve been away from here for about four-and-a-half years.

“I’ll do my best to focus on winning and helping the team grow whilst sharing my experiences [from playing] overseas. I also hope to entertain everyone who comes to watch, embody the kind of football that is a characteristic of Cerezo and help the team win.

“I look forward to [having] your support this season.”

Takarada is the second player to be leaving Leicester City this summer.