Western Sydney Wanderers have added Japanese midfielder Ena Harada to their squad ahead of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
Harada joins the club from NPLW NSW outfit Bankstown Lions; she’s been based in Sydney for six months prior to joining the Red and Black and arrives in the Ninja A-League with the intention of pushing for silverware with the Wanderers.
“It is a new experience for me to be here in Australia at this club,” Harada said. “Everyone has been so nice to me so far and I want to do my best to help the team this season.
“I hope that we can all do well and Western Sydney Wanderers can win trophies this season. I think there is a good chance with the team that we have that we surprise a lot of teams.”
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Harada is the fifth new arrival at the Wanderers this pre-season, joining Milly Bennett (scholarship contract), Sienna Saveska, Talia Kapetanellis and Paige Hayward at the club.
Confirmation of Harada’s signature comes just days prior to Western Sydney’s first game of the Ninja A-League season, away to Newcastle Jets at Cessnock Sportsground on Sunday, November 3.
Wanderers head coach Robbie Hooker expects Harada to slot in seamlessly to the Western Sydney’s midfield group as the 2024-25 season gets underway.
“Ena has very easily fitted in with the rest of the group both on and off the pitch. Her ability to create chances and to link up well with her teammates in that midfield area will add an extra layer of depth to the team this year,” said Hooker.
“We hope that we can be a place that she can really come into her own and show us the quality on the pitch that we have seen throughout training this pre-season.”
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