SEASON 2020 | Nao Ikeue signs on for Essendon Royals

Nao Ikeue is the latest international to sign for Essendon Royals’ senior women’s team for 2020.

A versatile player, Ikeue is comfortable playing at either end of the park as a forward or defender and enjoyed a distinguished high school career in Japan before spending the last three years with top-flight side Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara.

Her team finished seventh in the 10-team top flight of women’s football in Japan.

Ikeue departed the club at the end of the season looking for a new challenge and was delighted to learn of the opportunity that existed with the Royals in 2020.

“I have always wanted to play in Australia and I have a friend who plays here,” she said.

“I heard that this year the Royals celebrated their 60th anniversary and I’m really happy to be able to come to play for a team with so much history.

“I’m so excited to to come to Essendon. I want to experience the football in Australia and I want to experience what this country has to offer.”

Whilst at Stella Kanagawa, Ikeue trained and played with legends of Japanese football, including star Japan internationals Shinobu Ohno and Yoko Tanaka.

Ohno is a 139-cap veteran of the national team and was a member of Japan’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning team.

“Both of them are great football players,” she said.

“I have a lot of respect for them.”

Royals coach Mick Gallo said the signing was a coup for the club and was looking forward to bringing a player of Ikeue’s experience and calibre into his young first-team squad.

“I am excited to add another quality international to the squad. Nao brings some great experience playing in the top division in Japan,” he said.

“Nao is a technically excellent player, that fits perfectly to the way we want to play. Nao possesses the ability to play all ranges of passes as well as able to play effective passes in behind the opposition defence that will service our attacking players well. 

“Adding to Nao strengths she brings to the team, is her strong aerial capability and presence that will cause opposition teams headaches in our set-pieces, as well as strengthen our defensive capability.

“As a centre-back, Nao brings the ability to intercept opposition balls breaking attacks early, as well as fast closing space that we look for in our defenders. She also gives us flexibility as Nao is also able to play as a striker.”

Ikeue is the Royals’ second international signing this off-season and joins Argentina international Gaby Garton for the 2020 campaign.