is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Japan national team.
Club career Yamashita was born in Adachi, Tokyo on September 29, 1995. After graduating from high school, she joined Nippon TV Beleza in 2014.Nippon TV Beleza The club won L.League championship and she was selected Best Eleven for 3 years in a row from the 2015 season.
On 9 August 2024, Ayaka was signed on a three year deal by Women's Super League club Manchester City. She made her debut for the team in a UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying match win over Paris FC on 18 September 2024.
International career In August 2015, when Yamashita was 19 years old, she was selected for the Japan national team for the 2015 East Asian Cup. In that competition, on August 4, she debuted against South Korea.
On 19 March 2018, she was called up to the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup, where Japan won the championship.
On 10 May 2019, Yamashita was included in the 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. On 18 June 2021, she was included in the Japan squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
On 7 January 2022, Yamashita was called up to the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad. On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
On 14 June 2024, Yamashita was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Yamashita was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
Yamashita won the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup with her national team after a 1–0 victory over Australia in the final, where she also received the Best Goalkeeper award.
Career statistics Club
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTokyo Verdy Beleza2014Nadeshiko League4040 — —802015Nadeshiko League22030 — —2502016Nadeshiko League1804070 —2902017Nadeshiko League1805060 —2902018Nadeshiko League1705040 —2602019Nadeshiko League1802030 302602020Nadeshiko League12000 — —120Total1090230200301550INAC Kobe Leonessa2021–22WE League19010 — —2002022–23WE League1904040 —2702023–24WE League1803010—220Total560805000690Manchester City2024–25Women's Super League1003030502102025–26Women's Super League1701020—2002026–27Women's Super League4000—2060Total310405070470Career Total19603503001002710
International
National teamYearAppsGoalsJapan20153020163020175020181402019100202020202160202210020231102024110202590202660Total900
Honours Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Nadeshiko League: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Empress's Cup: 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Nadeshiko League Cup: 2016, 2018, 2019 AFC Women's Club Championship: 2019
INAC Kobe Leonessa
WE League: 2021–22
Manchester City
Women's Super League: 2025–26 Women's FA Cup: 2025–26
Japan
AFC Asian Cup: 2018, 2026 Asian Games: 2018 SheBelieves Cup: 2025
Individual
Nadeshiko League Best Eleven: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 WE League Most Valuable Player: 2021–22 WE League Best Eleven: 2021–22, 2022–23 WE League Outstanding Players Award: 2021–22, 2022–23 AFC Women's Asian Cup Best Goalkeeper: 2026
References
External links
Japan Football Association