Liverpool has officially signed Mao Itamura, an attacking midfielder from Feyenoord. The 19-year-old marks the fifth addition to Gareth Taylor's squad this summer, taking the place of Denise O'Sullivan, who recently joined Gotham FC on an initial loan deal.

Itamura was celebrated as the Women's Eredivisie player of the season for 2025-26, having scored eight goals and provided six assists for Feyenoord. Her impressive performance played a crucial role in helping the team qualify for European football for the first time in their history. Additionally, she was a key member of the Japan Under-20s squad that triumphed at the Women's Asian Cup in April.

Expressing her excitement about the move, Itamura stated, "It's a league and a club that was one of my goals [to join]. I'm happy to be here." She emphasized her ambition, saying, "When I started playing soccer, one of my goals was to become a professional footballer. When I reached that goal, I wanted to play for my favourite team."

Mao Itamura is thrilled to join Liverpool, a club she regards as significant in her career. She began her journey in Japan at JFA Academy Fukushima before making her move to Feyenoord in January 2025. Wearing the number 26 shirt, she joins fellow new signings Vivien Endemann, Sara Agrez, Mari Ward, and Khiara Keating at Liverpool.