Tottenham Hotspur Women have confirmed the loan signing of midfielder Mana Iwabuchi, who joins from Arsenal for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
The 29-year-old will wear the number 20 shirt at Spurs and follows striker Bethany England through the door this transfer window. Iwabuchi initially moved to the Women's Super League in 2020 with Aston Villa, before she completed the switch the North London in May 2021.
The Japan international struggled for game time under Jonas Eidevall and will be eager for more minutes with the World Cup on the horizon. She already has 37 goals in 85 games on the international stage and came on as a substitute in the 2011 World Cup final against the USA.
READ MORE: Beth England scores on debut in Villa loss but Tottenham fall to fifth consecutive WSL defeat
Speaking to the club website after completing the move, Iwabuchi said: "I'm very excited (to be here). Rehanne (Skinner) told me about our ambitions, so I'm very excited to join the journey. I'll bring my intelligence on the pitch for the team, I'll try to contribute. Now I'm a Spurs player, I'll try to do my best."
Iwabuchi also brings plenty of experience, having previously played in Germany with the likes of Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich. She helped Bayern to promotion in 2013, and went on to win two Frauen-Bundesliga titles, the first in 2015.
Tottenham began 2023 with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. New signing England scored on her debut, but it wasn't enough for Skinner's side as goals from Kenza Dali and Rachel Daly secured the win for the hosts.
The London club are next in action this Sunday with the visit of Leicester City and Iwabuchi could make her debut for the club. Spurs are currently eighth in the table with nine points.
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