East Bengal Women have strengthened their squad by signing Japanese defender Hitomi Tanaka ahead of their AFC Women’s Champions’ League group-stage campaign. The Yokohama-born player is set to become the first Japanese women’s footballer to join an Indian club.
Hitomi is moving to East Bengal from Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen club Hera United Women, with the transfer subject to a medical examination. She is expected to join the team ahead of its continental campaign.
The 26-year-old defender has spent most of her professional career playing in Europe. She began her European journey in Spain’s second division, where she spent six years representing CD Alba FF, Córdoba CF, CD Santa Teresa, Cacereño Femenino, SE AEM and Sporting Club de Huelva, before moving to the Netherlands.
Key Highlights:
- Hitomi has joined East Bengal Women ahead of their AFC Women’s Champions’ League group-stage campaign
- The Japanese defender brings six years of experience in Spanish football and recent experience in the Dutch league
- East Bengal will compete in Group B against Ho Chi Minh City WFC, Hwacheon KSPO WFC and 4.25 SC in Kolkata
Primarily a defender, the 26-year-old can also operate in midfield, giving East Bengal another versatile option ahead of their Champions League campaign. “I am honored and excited to join East Bengal FC, a club with such a rich legacy and passionate fan base,” Hitomi said.
“Playing in the AFC Women’s Champions League for the best South Asian club is a prestigious challenge, and I am ready to give my absolute best to help the team succeed and make our supporters proud on the continental stage.”
The Indian Women's League 2-time winners have been placed in Group B of AFC Women's Champions League with Ho Chi Minh City WFC of Vietnam, Hwacheon KSPO WFC of South Korea and DPR Korea's 4.25 SC.
East Bengal qualified for the group stage of the AFC Women's Champions League for the second straight year after taking the top spot in the preliminary round Group A in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The team went on to beat both Rajshahi Stars FC and Rovers FC and Sabah FA in the tournament to reach the next stage.
The 2026-27 group stage will be a three-group format of four teams, all of which will be played in a centralized format. East Bengal will face off against the Korea Republic's Hwacheon KSPO WFC, Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City WFC, and 4.25 SC from DPR Korea in Group B.
The group stage here in East Bengal will start with Ho Chi Minh City WFC on November 1 before a game with Hwacheon KSPO WFC on November 4. All the three group matches will be played in Kolkata; the team will conclude its group stage campaign on November 7 on its 4.25 SC rival.
This is the first time that India will host the AFC Women's Champions League in the group stage. The group winners, group runners-up and the top 2 third placed teams will move to the knockout stage after the group stage.
Hitomi's signing is part of East Bengal's second consecutive campaign in the group stage of the continent. Adding another foreign name to the squad this November is her extensive experience in Spanish and Dutch women's football. It has now been confirmed that she joins Hera United Women in the Netherlands and is the first ever Japanese female player to join an Indian club.
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