# Saori Takarada

Saori Takarada (宝田 沙織, Takarada Saori, born 27 December 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Japan national team. She previously played for Cerezo Osaka Sakai, Washington Spirit, and Linköpings FC.

## Early life

Takarada was born in Toyama Prefecture on 27 December 1999.

## Club career
### Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies

In 2013, Takarada joined Nadeshiko League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai. She scored 44 goals in 110 appearances for the club and helped the club gain promotion to the top flight of the Nadeshiko League in 2019. During the 2019 season, Takarada scored 2 goals in 18 appearances for Cerezo and helped the team to a fourth-place finish. She played both as a forward and as a midfielder for Cerezo.

### Washington Spirit

On 1 December 2020, Takarada signed a contract with the Washington Spirit for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Her Japanese national team teammate Kumi Yokoyama signed with the Spirit in 2019. Takarada reported to the Spirit's preseason training camp in February 2021.

### Linköping FC

On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Takarada would transfer to the Swedish Damalsvenskan club Linköping FC.

### Leicester City

On 8 December 2023, it was announced that Takarada would sign a pre-contract with Women's Super League club Leicester City. She made her competitive debut for the club on 14 January 2024 in the fourth round of the FA Cup tie against Derby County. She scored her first competitive goal for the club on 11 February 2024 in a FA Cup match against Birmingham City

## International career
### Youth

In 2016, Takarada was named to the Japan U-17 national team roster for the 2016 U-17 World Cup. She played in 5 matches and scored 2 goals, helping Japan to a 2nd place finish.
In 2018, Takarada played for the Japan U-20 national team at the 2018 U-20 World Cup. She played in all 6 matches and scored 5 goals and recorded 3 assists. Takarada scored the game-winning goal for Japan in the tournament final against Spain, leading Japan to the championship. She earned the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot for her performance in the tournament. Takarada also won the 2018 Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2018.

### Senior

Takarada was named to the Japanese national team for the 2019 World Cup after Riko Ueki withdrew due to injury in May 2019. She served as a substitute for Japan during the World Cup, appearing in three of Japan's four games.
On 18 June 2021, she was included in the Japan squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
On 7 January 2022, Takarada was called up to the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 18 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2013 | Nadeshiko Challenge League | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 2 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2014 | Nadeshiko Challenge League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2015 | Nadeshiko Challenge League | 18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 9 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2016 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 23 | 10 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2017 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 18 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | — | — | 29 | 30 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 5 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2019 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | — | — | 21 | 14 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 |
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | Total | Total | 143 | 56 | 9 | 2 | 31 | 14 | — | — | 183 | 72 |
| Washington Spirit | 2021 | National Women's Soccer League | 10 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Linköping FC | 2022 | Damallsvenskan | 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 3 |
| Linköping FC | 2023 | Damallsvenskan | 26 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Linköping FC | Total | Total | 51 | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 60 | 6 |
| Leicester City | 2023–24 | Women's Super League | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 216 | 61 | 20 | 4 | 35 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 273 | 79 |
* ↑ Includes Empress's Cup, Svenska Cupen
* ↑ Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, NWSL Challenge Cup, FA Women's League Cup
* ↑ Includes UEFA Women's Champions League

### International

    As of match played 23 September 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| Japan | 2021 | 6 | 1 |
| Japan | 2022 | 10 | 0 |
| Japan | 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 21 | 1 |
    Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Takarada goal.
List of international goals scored by Saori Takarada :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
| 1 | 11 June 2021 | Edion Stadium Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan | Ukraine | 3–0 | 8–0 | Friendly | |

## Honours

Cereza Osaka Sakai
* Nadeshiko League Cup Division 2: 2017, 2019
Japan
* EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2022
Japan U20
* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018
* AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2017
Japan U17
* FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: 2016
* AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2015
Individual
* Silver Ball, 2018 U-20 World Cup
* Bronze Boot, 2018 U-20 World Cup
* Asian Young Footballer of the Year: 2018