Maya Hijikata
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 13, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Niiza, Saitama, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Striker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Aston Villa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | NTV Tokyo Verdy Menina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2025 | NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza | 49 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Aston Villa | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Japan U-20 | 15 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Japan | 2 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 01:55, 8 March 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 01:55, 8 March 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maya Hijikata (土方 麻椰, Hijikata Maya; born April 13, 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Women's Super League club Aston Villa and the Japan national team.
Club career
In 2023, Hijikata was promoted from Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina to Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza.[1]
On 22 August 2025, it was announced Hijikata had signed for English side Aston Villa.[2]
International career
In July 2022, Hijikata was selected for the Japanese U-20 national team for the U-20 Women's World Cup. She played in five matches at the tournament, contributing to Japan's runner-up finish.[3][4]
In August 2023, Hijikata was selected for the senior Japanese national team for the Asian Games.[5] She played in five matches at the tournament, scoring two goals and contributing to Japan's victory.[6]
Hijikata was selected for the national team for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup held in Uzbekistan in February 2024 and was also selected for the national team for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in September of the same year.[7][8]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 15 February 2026[9]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tokyo Verdy Beleza | 2021–22[10] | WE League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23[11] | WE League | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2023–24[12] | WE League | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 6 | |
| 2024–25[13] | WE League | 19 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 7 | |
| Total | 48 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 59 | 15 | ||
| Aston Villa | 2025–26 | Women's Super League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Career total | 56 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 68 | 15 | ||
- ^ Includes Empress's Cup, Women's FA Cup
- ^ Includes WE League Cup, Women's League Cup
International
- As of match played 7 March 2026[14]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2026 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hijikata goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 March 2026 | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, Australia | India | 9–0 | 11–0 | 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
Honours
Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Japan
Japan U-20
- AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup runner-up: 2024
Individual
- AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Top Scorer: 2024
References
- ^ "土方麻椰 選手、柏村菜那 選手、ベレーザ昇格のお知らせ". Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza.
- ^ "Villa Women announce Hijikata signing". Aston Villa Football Club. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "U-20日本女子代表 FIFA U-20女子ワールドカップコスタリカ2022【8.7-28＠コスタリカ】メンバー". Japan Football Association.
- ^ "FIFA U-20女子ワールドカップ コスタリカ2022". Japan Football Association.
- ^ "第19回アジア競技大会（2022/杭州）日本女子代表 メンバー＆スケジュール【9.22-10.6＠中国】". Japan Football Association.
- ^ "第19回アジア競技大会（2022/杭州）". Japan Football Association.
- ^ "U-20日本女子代表 メンバー・スケジュール AFC U20女子アジアカップ ウズベキスタン 2024（2.19-3.18＠ウズベキスタン）" (Press release) (in Japanese). 日本サッカー協会. 13 February 2024.
- ^ "U-20日本女子代表 メンバー・スケジュール FIFA U-20女子ワールドカップ コロンビア2024" (Press release) (in Japanese). 日本サッカー協会. 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Maya Hijikata". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "2021シーズン試合一覧 | 日テレ・東京ヴェルディベレーザ / Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza". www.verdy.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "2022シーズン試合一覧 | 日テレ・東京ヴェルディベレーザ / Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza". www.verdy.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "2023シーズン試合一覧 | 日テレ・東京ヴェルディベレーザ / Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza". www.verdy.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "2024シーズン試合一覧 | 日テレ・東京ヴェルディベレーザ / Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza". www.verdy.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Hijikata Maya". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 8 March 2026.