West Ham United sign London City Lionesses midfielder Kumagai

West Ham United has finalized the signing of Saki Kumagai, the London City Lionesses midfielder, on a permanent contract. The Japanese player, who is 35 years old, signed a one-year deal with the club at their Chigwell Construction Stadium. Kumagai joined London City Lionesses in January 2025 and helped the team win the Barclays WSL2 title shortly after.

She has also played for Urawa Reds, Eintracht Frankfurt, OL Lyonnes, FC Bayern Munich, and AS Roma during her career. Kumagai has won five UEFA Women’s Champions League titles with OL Lyonnes and has also won league titles in four different countries. On the international stage, she has earned 173 caps for Japan and scored four goals.

Kumagai made her debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011. She expressed her excitement about joining West Ham United, stating that she hopes to use her experience to help the team. Kumagai looks forward to working with her new teammates and manager Rita Guarino as she continues her journey in England.