Aoba Fujino

Japanese association football player (born 2004)

Aoba Fujino
Personal information
Full name Aoba Fujino
Date of birth (2004-01-27) 27 January 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Machida, Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Manchester City
Number 20
Youth career
Minamiosawa FC
Tokyo Verdy Sereias
2019–2021 Jumonji High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Tokyo Verdy Beleza 51 (24)
2024– Manchester City 0 (0)
International career
2022 Japan U-20
2022– Japan 24 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:41, 13 July 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:59, 2 August 2024 (UTC)

Aoba Fujino (藤野 あおば, Fujino Aoba, born 27 January 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Japan national team.

Club career

Fujino begun her youth career with Nippon TV Menina, the youth academy of Tokyo Verdy Beleza. Unable to progress through the youth rank, she left the team and instead went on to Jumonji High School. She rejoined Tokyo Verdy Beleza upon her graduation from high school.[1]

Fujino made her WE League debut on 16 October 2021.[2] On 2 August 2024, she signed a three-year deal with Women's Super League side Manchester City[3]

International career

In July 2022, Fujino was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 2022 U-20 Women's World Cup[4] where Japan were the runners-up.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in Japan's 23-player squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[5] On July 26, 2023, she scored her first World Cup goal against Costa Rica in the 2nd round of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C, becoming the youngest Japanese goal scorer (19 years and 180 days) in the World Cup for both men and women.[6][7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tokyo Verdy Beleza 2021–22 WE League 10 4 0 0 0 0 10 4
2022–23 WE League 20 11 4 3 4 3 28 17
2023–24 WE League 21 9 2 1 5 2 28 12
Total 51 24 6 4 9 5 66 33
Manchester City 2024–25 Women's Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 51 24 6 4 9 5 66 33

International

As of match played 26 July 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2022 4 0
2023 13 3
2024 7 4
Total 24 7
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fujino goal.
List of international goals scored by Aoba Fujino
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 July 2023 Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan  Panama 4–0 5–0 Friendly
2 26 July 2023 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand  Costa Rica 2–0 2–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
3 30 November 2023 Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil  Brazil 1–0 3–4 Friendly
4 28 February 2024 Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  North Korea 2–0 2–1 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
5 3 June 2024 Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain  New Zealand 3–1 4–1 Friendly
6 13 July 2024 Kanazawa Stadium, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan  Ghana 4–0 4–0 MS&AD Cup
7 26 July 2024 Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France  Spain 1–0 1–2 2024 Summer Olympics

Honours

Tokyo Verdy Beleza

Japan U20

Individual

References

  1. ^ "藤野あおば、20歳――WEリーグで増す存在感「得点はしたいし、取らなきゃいけない」". 集英社 スポルティーバ 公式サイト web Sportiva (in Japanese). 20 February 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Scoresheet" (PDF). weleague.jp. October 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Aoba Fujino: Manchester City sign Japan forward". BBC Sport. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ U-20 Japan Women's National Team squad - FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ (8/7-28@Costa Rica) Japan Football Association
  5. ^ "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Two goals in 2 minutes help Japan beat Costa Rica 2-0 at Women's World Cup". AP News. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino score BACK-TO-BACK goals to give Japan a 2-0 lead over Costa Rica | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup". FOX Sports. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Japan - A. Fujino - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  9. ^ "Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams|JFA|Japan Football Association".
  10. ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Football: Ueki double leads Beleza to record 16th Empress's Cup". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  • Aoba Fujino at Soccerway
  • Aoba Fujino at WorldFootball.net
  • Japan Football Association
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Manchester City W.F.C. – current squad
Japan squads
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Japan squad2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Japan
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Japan women's football squad2024 Summer Olympics
Japan
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