East Bengal Women Sign Hitomi Tanaka in Historic IWL Move
Hitomi Tanaka Makes History With East Bengal Women
East Bengal Women are preparing to make another notable addition to their growing international profile with the signing of Hitomi Tanaka, a 33-year-old defender from Japan.
Tanaka is set to become the first Japanese woman to play for an Indian football club, according to reports, making her arrival significant beyond East Bengal’s immediate squad plans. The final formalities are reportedly being completed before the club officially announces the transfer.
The move also reflects the changing ambitions of Indian women’s club football. East Bengal have already established themselves as one of the leading sides in the country, and their increasing involvement in continental competitions has created a need for players with experience beyond the domestic circuit.
Tanaka’s versatility could make her particularly useful. While primarily a defender, she can also operate as a defensive midfielder.
Hitomi Tanaka Brings European Football Experience
Tanaka’s career has taken her well beyond Japan.
She began her senior career with Yamato Sylphid, a Japanese second-division club, during the 2016-17 season. The following campaign saw her move to Spain, where she joined Fundaci贸n Albacete.
A significant part of Tanaka’s career subsequently unfolded in Spain, where she continued playing for different clubs until 2025. Later that year, she moved to the Netherlands and joined Hera United, a club competing in the country’s top division.
That international experience gives East Bengal another player accustomed to different footballing environments.
For a club competing domestically while also representing India in Asia, having a defender who has spent years playing overseas could add another layer to the squad.
East Bengal Women Continue Their International Push
Tanaka’s arrival comes at an important point in East Bengal’s development.
The Kolkata club won its maiden Indian Women’s League title in 2024-25, finishing eight points clear of Gokulam Kerala. That success established East Bengal as champions, but the club’s ambitions have extended beyond domestic football.
East Bengal have also secured another appearance in the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage for the 2026-27 season.
According to the All India Football Federation, East Bengal were drawn in Group B alongside South Korea’s Hwacheon KSPO WFC, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City WFC and North Korea’s 4.25 SC. Kolkata will host the group from November 1 to 7, marking the first time the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage will be staged in India.
That continental assignment provides an obvious context for strengthening the squad.
Hitomi Tanaka Could Add Defensive Flexibility
East Bengal’s decision to bring in Tanaka is not simply about adding an overseas name.
Her ability to play in both defence and defensive midfield gives head coach Anthony Andrews another tactical option. A player comfortable in multiple positions can become particularly valuable during a season involving domestic and continental commitments.
The club will also have to manage a demanding schedule. The 2026-27 IWL is scheduled to begin on October 16, with East Bengal among the eight participating clubs.
That means Tanaka could be entering a team expected to compete on more than one front.
East Bengal Women Look Beyond the Domestic Stage
The Japanese defender’s arrival also fits into a wider pattern at East Bengal.
The club has increasingly used international competition as an opportunity to raise the level of its women’s team. Their second consecutive AFC Women’s Champions League group-stage appearance provides another chance to test themselves against established clubs from across Asia.
For Tanaka, meanwhile, India represents another chapter in a career that has already taken her from Japan to Spain and then the Netherlands.
Her move would therefore carry significance on two levels: a historic first for a Japanese women’s footballer in an Indian club and another sign of East Bengal’s growing international outlook.
If the final formalities are completed as expected, Tanaka’s arrival will give the Kolkata club an experienced defensive option as they prepare for a season that could demand considerably more from the squad.
