Risa Shimizu joins Liverpool FC Women on loan from Manchester City

A highly experienced right-sided full-back, she reunites with Reds head coach Gareth Taylor, who recruited Shimizu from West Ham United while in charge of City last summer.

The 29-year-old, a regular for Japan since debuting for her country at senior international level in October 2017, has featured at two Women’s World Cups and at the Olympics twice.

“I’m excited to join this club and I’m looking forward to being on the pitch for this club as well,” she told Liverpoolfc.com in her first interview at the AXA Melwood Training Centre.

“I know what type of football the coach plays from our time together at City so I thought it was the right fit for me and that’s why I chose this club.”

Shimizu progressed through the youth system to begin her professional career at Tokyo Verdy Beleza in her homeland and blossomed into one of the team’s – and the Nadeshiko League’s –most consistent performers.

She was a winner of five league titles in what was at the time the top tier of women’s football in Japan, also being named in the division’s best XI every season from 2017 to 2020.

The defender was appointed captain at the club in 2020, before embarking on a new challenge by moving to the Barclays Women’s Super League with West Ham ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

Shimizu appeared in all 44 league matches during her two years with the Hammers, playing every minute of the 2023-24 term.

City swooped to sign her last summer, but an unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament rupture sustained at the 2024 Olympics prevented her from taking to the pitch in Manchester.

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“Because I was injured, obviously I haven’t played for a year but when I stood back on the pitch during a training match at City I felt that enjoyment again,” said Shimizu.

“So hopefully I can feel that enjoyment at Liverpool now and hopefully contribute to the club.

“I want to play and get minutes and contribute to wins for Liverpool, and as a club hopefully we can continue to aim for the top end of the table.”

She will wear the No.5 shirt for the Reds.

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