We are delighted to announce the signing of Mana Iwabuchi on loan from Arsenal for the remainder of the season.
A World Cup winner with her nation Japan in 2011, Mana will wear the number 20 shirt.
The Tokyo-born midfielder began her career at the age of 14 at Nippon TV Beleza in Japan in 2007, and was named their best young player in 2008, before making the move to German side 1899 Hoffenheim four years later.
Her four goals in the 2012/13 season helped her side win promotion to the Bundesliga, and she was pivotal in them avoiding relegation the following year.
Having impressed at Hoffenheim, she was signed by Bayern Munich, who remained unbeaten throughout 2014/15 to win the Bundesliga. She added a second Bundesliga winners' medal to her name before returning to Japan to join INAC Kobe Leonessa.
In 2020, the 29-year-old completed a move to the Women’s Super League, spending half a season with Aston Villa before signing for Arsenal, where she scored on her debut in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
On the international stage, she has scored 37 goals in 85 games for Japan, five of which came during the Nadeshiko's 2011 World Cup win against the USA in Germany. In 2012, Mana helped her nation to silver medal at the London Olympics before she helped to them to gold at the Asian Games and the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2018.