We caught up with Moeka Minami after she joined us earlier this summer, as she shares her excitement, ambitions and what fans should expect to see from her next season.
Moeka, welcome to Brighton and Hove Albion. How are you feeling after joining us?
Iām really happy to be starting a new challenge with such a great team like Albion. I want to give everything I have for the team and continue learning and growing every day.
What did you know about the club before signing?
I already knew that Albion was a fantastic team, and the more I learned about the club after they reached out to me, the more I was drawn to it -that made me want to play here.
Youāll be teaming up with fellow Japanese player Kiko Seike - how do you feel about playing alongside her at club level?
Iāve played with Kiko for a long time in Japan, and weāve always been close off the pitch too, so Iām really happy and excited to be playing together again!
Did you speak with Kiko before joining?
Yes, I asked her a lot about the team - what itās like, the facilities, and the environment. She told me so many great things about this club, which made me even more excited to join.
How would you describe your playing style?
Iām confident in my accurate passing, persistence, and aerial ability.
What do you hope to achieve at Brighton?
I just want to keep contributing to the team so we can achieve even better results than last season. I believe we can aim for a place in the Champions League.
What are you most looking forward to with this move?
Iām really looking forward to our first home game! I canāt wait to meet all the Albion fans and supporters.
Are you excited about the challenge of playing in the WSL?
Definitely! Iāve heard from other Japanese players that itās an amazing league, and womenās football is growing so much here, so Iām really looking forward to playing in that environment.
The team finished a record-breaking fifth last season. Does that motivate you to help push even further this year?
Absolutely. I believe Albion is capable of finishing even higher, and I want to do everything I can to help the team keep winning and improving.
Do you have a message for the fans?
Iāll give my all to help us win as many matches as possible! Thank you for your support - Iām looking forward to seeing you all soon.