Yet behind the ever-present smile, there is a resilience few possess. It's why at just 19 years old, Hamano took the big step of leaving INAC Kobe Leonessa in her native Japan for Chelsea.

The move took her thousands of miles away from her home, and there was a huge cultural shift away from everything she’d ever known. Hamano arrived with very little English and remains on the path to learning the language in her new country.

Yet those hurdles have not impeded her progress on the pitch. Last season, Hamano made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing three assists on the way to a domestic Treble under Sonia Bompastor.

Now 21 years old, she has been rewarded with a new contract at Chelsea. Her success is a result of a great deal of hard work and perseverance through a tough adjustment process.

Hamano's outlook on life is truly refreshing. Instead of focusing on any struggles she might have faced, she zooms in on what she’s grateful for. She’s been through the process with a constant smile on her face.

‘I believe it's important to appreciate the little moments of happiness in everyday life,’ she tells us. ‘Of course, playing football makes me really happy, especially being able to share the pitch with such talented team-mates. I feel the last two years of my time here at Chelsea have passed so quickly, and I believe a lot of things will happen in the next four years.

'These four years will definitely pass very quickly, too. So I would like to cherish every day to grow up to be a better footballer and also a better person.

'If I had to describe my story, I'd say I'm someone who is truly lucky to meet so many wonderful people.'

Hamano says she settled in so well to life at Chelsea and England thanks to the help from those around her. She’s been embraced by the Blues family, from the staff to the players and the supporters.

When asked for examples of how those around her have helped, there are too many to recall.

‘I can't choose because I think everyone is really kind,’ she continues. ‘And if I talk about it, I will take at least two hours – maybe two days!

‘When I first joined Chelsea, I remember clearly how my team-mates, starting with Niamh [Charles] and Jessie [Fleming], would help me after meetings whenever I didn't understand a word. Erin [Cuthbert] also made a strong impression on me - she would take notes, filling two pages to summarise the players' meetings.

‘When these things happened, I thought they were very kind and caring.

‘Before the games, I have goosebumps always. I love Chelsea because I receive love from the fans. Even at away games, so many people come to the stadium to support us. I love the football culture here. Because in Japan, we have a lot of sports, but here, football is really the number one sport.’

The Blues squad currently consists of 14 different nationalities. And rather than any differences dividing the group, Hamano explains that diversity is our strength at Chelsea.

‘I like Chelsea because any player who is from a different culture and was raised in a different country can work as part of the team to achieve one goal together with staff and fans,’ she says.

'It is not only about football, but also in our lives that we have a common goal, even though we are all different. Regardless of culture, beyond any cultural differences, we have trust and respect for each other.

'The best thing about Chelsea is that we can all unite with each other to achieve this common goal.’

And having signed a new deal, Maika has four more years trying to do just that.