is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Damallsvenskan club Djurgårdens IF.
Early life Watanabe was born on 8 April 2002 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Inspired by her two older brothers, she began playing football at the age of five, and began dreaming of being a professional footballer when she was in the first grade of elementary school. She began attending Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU) in 2021.
Club career
JFA Academy Fukushima Ahead of the 2015 season, Watanabe joined Nadeshiko League Division 2 West (NLD2W) club at the age of 13.
Nittaidai SMG Yokohama Ahead of the 2021 season, Watanabe signed for Nadeshiko League Division 1 (NLD1) club Nittaidai SMG Yokohama whilst studying at Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU or Nittaidai), a private university in the Aoba ward of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
At the end of the 2023 season, Watanabe was named in the Nadeshiko League's Best 11.
Djurgårdens IF Ahead of the 2025 season, Watanabe signed for Damallsvenskan club Djurgårdens IF.
International career Watanabe was selected for the Japan under-20 national team by manager Futoshi Ikeda as part of Japan's 21-player squad for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica, held from 10 to 28 August 2022. She made her début and only appearance on 14 August 2022, coming on as a substitute in the second minute of second-half stoppage time in a 2–0 victory over Ghana at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela. Japan, who were the defending champions, finished runners-up at the tournament.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League Domestic cup Total Division Goals Cup Apps Goals Apps Goals 2015 Nadeshiko League Division 2 West 0 0 Empress' Cup 0 0 0 0 2016 1 0 0 0 1 0 2017 7 1 1 0 8 1 2018 15 2 2 0 17 2 2019 18 3 2 0 20 3 2020 9 1 1 0 10 1 Total 50 7 Total 6 0 56 7 Nittaidai Yokohama Nadeshiko League Division 1 21 1 Empress' Cup 1 0 22 1 2022 18 3 1 0 19 3 2023 21 3 4 1 25 4 21 2 1 0 22 1 Total 81 9 Total 7 1 88 10 Djurgården 2025 Damallsvenskan 25 5 Svenska Cupen 2 0 27 5 2026 20 7 5 1 25 8 Total 45 12 Total 7 1 52 13 Career total 176 28 Total 20 2 196 30
International + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition National team Year Goals Japan U20 2022 1 0 Career total 1 0
Honours Japan U20 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Runners-up: 2022
References
External links