is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Everton and the Japan national team.
A full international since 2019, she represented Japan at the 2020 Olympics and the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Early life Hayashi was born in Uji, just south of central Kyoto in Japan. She started playing football for Shinmei JSC Sports Boy Scouts at the age of five. As an eleven-year-old, she was invited to a national team camp for U12 players by the Japan Football Association. At the age of 15, Hayashi moved to Osaka and she started playing with Cerezo Osaka's U15 team.
Club career
Cerezo Osaka Sakai Hayashi begun her career with Cerezo Osaka Sakai in 2013 as they entered the second division Challenge League. She was appointed club captain in 2017 and led her club to promotion to the Nadeshiko League Division 1 by the end of the season and won the Division 2 Nadeshiko League Cup.
AIK Fotboll On 16 December 2020, Hayashi signed a contract with Swedish Damallsvenskan side AIK Fotboll. She made her friendly debut in their pre-season tournament Stockholm Volkswagen Challenge. Hayashi made her league debut against Växjö on 17 April 2021. On 2 May 2021, she scored her first competitive goals for the club against Djurgårdens IF, scoring in the 57th, and scoring a penalty in the 79th minute. On June 5, 2021, she netted a freekick goal against KIF Örebro that would see her nominated for goal of the year by Sportbladet. In total, she made 36 appearances for the club and netted 7 goals.
West Ham United On 8 September 2022, Hayashi signed a two-year-contract with West Ham United for an undisclosed fee from Swedish Damallsvenskan side AIK Fotboll. She made her league debut against Everton on 18 September 2022. She scored her first goal for the club in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa on 15 October 2022. On 30 June 2024, it was announced that Hayashi would leave the club when her contract expired.
Everton On 24 July 2024, Hayashi signed for Everton. On 7 December 2025, she scored the goal that ended Chelsea's unbeaten streak, the longest in Super League history at 34 matches, with Everton winning 1–0. On 6 February 2026, Hayashi signed a one and a half year contract extension with the club, with a club option of a further year.
International career Hayashi received her first international call-up in December 2019. On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA World Cup 2023. She scored her first international goal in Japan's 2–1 win against Sweden in the quarterfinal. On 14 June 2024, she was included in the 2024 Summer Olympics squad.
Hayashi was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
Career statistics Club
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCerezo Osaka Sakai2013Nadeshiko Challenge League 22410 —2342014Nadeshiko Challenge League223 — —2232015Nadeshiko Challenge League188 — —1882016Nadeshiko League 218320822852017Nadeshiko League 218620922982018Nadeshiko League16120802612019Nadeshiko League 218420942982020Nadeshiko League18731 —218Total1483612134819645AIK Fotboll2021Damallsvenskan 184 00 —1842022Damallsvenskan182 00 —182Total3660000366West Ham United2022–23Women's Super League21110502712023–24Women's Super League2121010232Total4232060503Everton2024–25Women's Super League21420202542025–26Women's Super League19410302342026–27Women's Super League20000020Total4283050508Career total2685317145833262
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational TeamYearAppsGoalsJapan2019102021902022902023112202450202520202350Total422
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hayashi goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Honoka HayashiNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition111 August 2023Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand1–21–22023 FIFA Women's World Cup226 October 2023Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan3–07–02024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Honours Cerezo Osaka Sakai
Nadeshiko League Cup Division 2: 2017, 2019
Japan U20
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018
Japan
AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2026 EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2019, 2022
References
External links