Maya Hijikata

Maya Hijikata
土方 麻椰
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-04-13) 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 9 (0)
International career‡
2022–2024 Japan U-20 15 (10)
2023– Japan 4 (1)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Japan
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Winner2026 Australia
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2022 HangzhouWomen's tournament
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Runner-up2024 Colombia
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
Runner-up2024 Uzbekistan
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 02:08, 13 April 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 02:06, 13 April 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 29 March 2026[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tokyo Verdy Beleza 2021–22[10] WE League 20000020
2022–23[11] WE League 1120000112
2023–24[12] WE League 1752041236
2024–25[13] WE League 1973020247
Total 481450615915
Aston Villa 2025–26 Women's Super League 901000100
Career total 571460616915

International

As of match played 11 April 2026[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan 202641
Total41
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hijikata goal.
List of international goals scored by Maya Hijikata
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

Individual

  • AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Top Scorer: 2024

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "Villa Women announce Hijikata signing". Aston Villa Football Club. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "FIFA U-20女子ワールドカップ コスタリカ2022". Japan Football Association.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "第19回アジア競技大会（2022/杭州）". Japan Football Association.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "Maya Hijikata". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Hijikata Maya". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
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