Who is Hitomi Tanaka? East Bengal's latest foreign signing
The Torchbearers have roped in Japanese defender Hitomi Tanaka.
The defending champions of the Indian Women’s League (IWL), East Bengal FC have signed the 33-year-old Japanese defender Hitomi Tanaka.
The Japanese defender joins the Torchbearers ahead of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Group Stage games and IWL 2026-27.
East Bengal FC won the 2025-26 IWL with a gap of 14 points, getting to 39 points out of their 14 total matches, they had 13 wins and only one loss (coming against Kickstart FC). Their campaign was enough for them to qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League Qualifiers.
In the qualifiers, the Moshal Girls dominated their group by winning all 3 of their matches, managing to score 18 goals, and conceding none.
The Torchbearers have made a couple of singings to boost their squad before the start of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27. In this article, we will take a look at the player profile of East Bengal’s latest FOREIGN signing, Hitomi Tanaka.
A brief look at Hitomi Tanaka’s career so far
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Hitomi is a Japanese right-footed defender, who has been playing most of her professional football in the first and second division of Spain.
Her first move from Japan was when she joined Albacete in Spain. At the club she would spend the next 3 seasons, before moving to Cordoba CF Feminino. She would join the club right before the Covid 19 outbreak, which led to her not being able to play for her new club for a while.
By the time she could get used to her new club, she joined Santa Teresa CD in the 2021-22 season. It would take the Japanese player only a season to make her next move to CP Cacereño Feminino. The following season, she would go on to join Secció Esportiva AEM (also known as AEM Lleida).
In the 2024-25 season, Hitomi would join her last club in Spain, SC Huelva. It would be at SC Huelva that she would make her mark, as her one season with the team, would earn her the next move of her career, to Netherlands. In Netherlands, she played for Hera United.
In the 2025-26 season, Hitomi made over 20 appearances for the team, managing to play the 3rd most amount of minutes out of any player.
Hitomi is known for being a fast, agile defender who contributes to plays by making aggressive tackles and progressing forward on the pitch without the ball. Her caliber, experience and skills are more than just a boost to the East Bengal squad.
Player Profile: Hitomi Tanaka
- Name: Hitomi Tanaka
- Age: 33
- Country: Japan
- Position: Centre-Back
- Preferred foot: Right
- Played for: Albacete (Spain), Cordoba (Spain), Yamato Sylphid (Japan), SC Huelva (Spain), Hera United (Netherland)
Who is Hitomi Tanaka?
Hitomi Tanaka is a 33-year-old Centre-Back from Japan, who has recently signed for the East Bengal FC Women’s Team.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.