Saori Takarada is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Japan national team.
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.
Saori was born in Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
One of her favourite meals is a salmon ball with slices of avocado.
Takarada is sponsored by Yanmar, a company that supports her football endeavors.
A versatile player, she came through the ranks at Japanese side Cerezo Osaka Sakai, before joining National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit in December 2020. She helped the club to the league title for the first time in their history with play-off victory over Chicago Red Stars.
She loves Japenese food and sweets.
In 2012, she enrolled in the inaugural class of the JFA Academy Sakai in Osaka Prefecture, focusing on developing her football skills.
She is well known for her adaptability on the field, playing as a forward, midfielder, and defender.
| Puma |
| Yanmar |
| EAFF E-1 Football Championship (2022) | 1× |
| NWSL Championship (2021) | 1× |
| Nadeshiko League Cup Division 2 | 2× |
| FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (2018) | 1× |
| AFC U-19 Women's Championship (2017) | 1× |
| FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup (2016) | 1× |
| AFC U-16 Women's Championship (2015) | 1× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024
-
present
|
Leicester City | 24 | 1 |
|
2022
-
2023
|
Linköpings FC | 51 | 5 |
|
2021
-
|
Washington Spirit | 10 | 0 |
|
2013
-
2020
|
Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 143 | 56 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2019
-
present
|
Japan | 21 | 1 |
|
2018
-
|
Japan WU20 | 6 | 5 |
|
2016
-
|
Japan WU17 | 5 | 2 |
