is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for WE League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai and the Japan national team. She previously played for Washington Spirit, Linköpings FC and Leicester City
Early life Takarada was born in Toyama Prefecture on 27 December 1999.
Club career Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies In 2013, Takarada joined Nadeshiko League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai. She scored 44 goals in 110 appearances for the club and helped the club gain promotion to the top flight of the Nadeshiko League in 2019. During the 2019 season, Takarada scored 2 goals in 18 appearances for Cerezo and helped the team to a fourth-place finish. She played both as a forward and as a midfielder for Cerezo.
Washington Spirit On 1 December 2020, Takarada signed a contract with the Washington Spirit for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Her Japanese national team teammate Kumi Yokoyama signed with the Spirit in 2019. Takarada reported to the Spirit's preseason training camp in February 2021.
Linköping FC On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Takarada would transfer to the Swedish Damalsvenskan club Linköping FC.
Leicester City On 8 December 2023, it was announced that Takarada would sign a pre-contract with Women's Super League club Leicester City. She made her competitive debut for the club on 14 January 2024 in the fourth round of the FA Cup tie against Derby County. She scored her first competitive goal for the club on 11 February 2024 in a FA Cup match against Birmingham City
International career
Youth In 2016, Takarada was named to the Japan U-17 national team roster for the 2016 U-17 World Cup. She played in 5 matches and scored 2 goals, helping Japan to a 2nd place finish.
In 2018, Takarada played for the Japan U-20 national team at the 2018 U-20 World Cup.FIFA She played in all 6 matches and scored 5 goals and recorded 3 assists. Takarada scored the game-winning goal for Japan in the tournament final against Spain, leading Japan to the championship. She earned the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot for her performance in the tournament. Takarada also won the 2018 Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2018.
Senior Takarada was named to the Japanese national team for the 2019 World Cup after Riko Ueki withdrew due to injury in May 2019.Japan Football Association She served as a substitute for Japan during the World Cup, appearing in three of Japan's four games.Japan Football Association
On 18 June 2021, she was included in the Japan squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
On 7 January 2022, Takarada was called up to the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCerezo Osaka Sakai2013Nadeshiko Challenge League 21 2 1 0 —— 2222014Nadeshiko Challenge League 21 0 0 0 —— 2102015Nadeshiko Challenge League18900——1892016Nadeshiko League 21471083—23102017Nadeshiko League 218222197—29302018Nadeshiko League1842180—2852019Nadeshiko League 215100064—21142020Nadeshiko League18230——212Total 143 56 9 2 31 14— 18372Washington Spirit2021National Women's Soccer League100—30—130Linköping FC2022Damallsvenskan25330——2832023Damallsvenskan26241—20323Total51571—20606Leicester City2023–24Women's Super League1214110—171Career total2166120435142027379
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational TeamYearAppsGoalsJapan2019302021612022100202320202530202656Total297
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Takarada goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Saori TakaradaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Edion Stadium Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan5–08–0Friendly2 Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi, Japan 5–08–0 2026 Asian Games 36–047–051–04–06 73–0
Honours Cereza Osaka Sakai
Nadeshiko League Cup Division 2: 2017, 2019
Japan
EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2022
Japan U20
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018 AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2017
Japan U17
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: 2016 AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2015
Individual Silver Ball, 2018 U-20 World Cup Bronze Boot, 2018 U-20 World Cup Asian Young Footballer of the Year: 2018
References
External links
Japan Football Association profile Washington Spirit profile