Manchester City are in safe hands with the signing of two new goalkeepers, Ayaka Yamashita and youngster Eve Annets.

Ayaka Yamashita

Japan international Yamashita joins Gareth Taylor’s ranks ahead of the 2024-25 season.

She will join her international teammates, Risa Shimizu, Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino at Manchester City after signing a three-year contract with the club.

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The goalkeeper arrived in Manchester as City’s fifth signing of the window, recruited from Japanese side INAC Kobe Leonessa.

Yamashita told City: “I’ve won various trophies in Asia, but to level up myself, I felt the need to take on a challenge.

“It’s a famous club that everyone knows, and even now, it feels unbelievable to me.”

With 74 caps for her country, the 28-year-old will take the number 31 shirt and will be vying for a spot in the starting line-up over Khiara Keating and fellow newcomer, Eve Annets.

Eve Annets

At only 18 years old, Annets joins the side as their youngest goalkeeper.

After a successful spell, progressing through Reading’s academy, she made her England U19 debut just last year in their 5-0 victory over Denmark.

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Annets will take over Swedish international, Filippa Angeldahl’s shirt number of 12 after her departure earlier in this window.

The young talent told City: “I mean a club like this, to hear they’re interested in you is just a feeling that can’t be matched.

“And just the aspirations I’ve got, coming to a club like this is just incredible.”


Featured image courtesy of Manchester City.

By Abby Rampling-Mott

Former contributor to Beyond The 90