Mana Iwabuchi has announced her retirement from professional football.
Posting on social media, Mana said: “To all the people supporting me, what is on my mind now is the gratitude to every single thing I experienced through this game - the support, encouragement, fighting together, the scenes, excitement, creativity - and I feel so grateful to all of you who were with me.
“I love football, I love the people I met in football, and I have loved my football career.
“Thank you so much for everything.”
Mana joined us from Aston Villa in May 2021 and marked her debut with a goal in our UEFA Women’s Champions League clash against Okzheptes in August 2021.
In total, the Japanese midfielder made 28 appearances and scored a total of six goals for us. Mana’s final Arsenal appearance was in our 9-1 win over FC Zurich in the Champions League on 21 December 2022, when she came off the bench to score our ninth goal of the night.
Mana spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at fellow Barclays Women’s Super League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Everyone at the club would like to thank Mana for her contribution here at Arsenal and wish her every success in the next chapter.
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