Hamano joined the Blues as a teenager from INAC Kobe Leonessa of the WE League in her home country of Japan in January 2023. That season, she would win her first Women's Super League title, before the following campaign saw her contribute to our domestic Treble with 30 appearances and six goals under new head coach Sonia Bompastor.

In 2025/26, the Japanese international made eight appearances in blue before heading to Tottenham Hotspur on loan, where she spent the rest of the season under the tutelage of Spurs' head coach Martin Ho.

In March, she was called up to Japan's Asian Cup squad, standing out as a star performer. Hamano featured in five of Japan's six matches at the tournament, scoring three times in total as they reached the final against home nation Australia.

A cagey affair followed, and Hamano netted the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win that saw her named in the inaugural edition of the FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Team of the Tournament for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.

Now back with Chelsea, Hamano has made four appearances so far this season, marking her 50th with the club during our 2-0 win over Birmingham City.

Congratulations, Maika!

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