We sit in the comfort of Cobham, a place Hamano has largely called home since joining the Blues from INAC Kobe Leonessa in her native Japan in January 2023.

There was a loan spell at Swedish side Hammarby IF – agreed upon signing for Chelsea – but that was cut short due to a dislocated shoulder that required surgery. A lengthy spell on the sidelines followed.

Such challenges, including leaving Japan at just 18 years old, are important chapters in Maika's story – and as she talks her resilience and passion shine through.

‘I love Chelsea,’ Hamano says with a smile as big as we will see all day. ‘I didn’t know much before I moved here, but now I know what Chelsea is and what we have to be.

‘We should be a winning team. You have to give 100 per cent in training and have to play every game to win.’

To leave her homeland so young and to step into the unknown reflects Maika’s character. A desire to learn, improve and develop is what brought her to London in the first place.

‘When I joined Chelsea, I had been at the Under-20 World Cup with Japan,’ the forward adds. ‘I won the Golden Ball and the Silver Boot but as a team, we lost the final.

‘I was sad, but I wanted to get stronger and to improve. I knew I had to go and find a new challenge. That was coming here.’

As mentioned, Maika's love for Chelsea developed during some of the toughest times in her career. But she knew she had to practice patience and recover from her injury to finally make her Blues debut.

Yet even when unable to get on the pitch and play alongside her team-mates, the 20-year-old found positives. It was a time, she says, where many learnings were made.

‘I went on loan to Sweden after joining Chelsea and dislocated my shoulder,’ Hamano explains. ‘I had shoulder surgery for the first time in my life.

‘I had so much support from so many people, but I wasn’t able to play. Football is all I have ever done, so it was hard to get used to life without it for a while.

'It was a tough season for me but since I’ve been at Chelsea, there have many things I’ve been able to learn from on and outside of the pitch.’

In December 2023, Maika finally got the chance to introduce herself to the Blues faithful. Coming off the bench in a match against Bristol City, she made her first appearance for the club.

Her first goal followed in April in a win against Aston Villa, which was also the young forward’s first 90 minutes in a Women’s Super League match.

And as the end of last season neared, and with the Blues pursuing a fifth consecutive title, Maika’s impact was clear for all to see.

She scored the only goal in our 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Brisbane Road which sent us to the top of the table ahead of the final day of the campaign. We all know what happened next.

The 15-time capped Japan international now has a WSL title to show for her first full season at the Blues. And it is that piece of silverware she says is her biggest highlight to date.

‘Being a champion,’ Hamano answers when asked about her favourite moments at the club thus far.

‘I know it is difficult to become a champion. We had a hard season and lost out in the cup and Champions League, but we had to have a bounce back mentality to go and win the league.

‘I’m very proud to be able to play for this club and I’m very grateful to all of my team-mates. I learned a lot from them and from Emma Hayes last year. We wrote together on paper what my goals were and she helped me try to get there.

‘With Sonia this season, I have learned a lot. When we train and stop to analyse training, I can learn, and when we review things I can see things better and learn more.’

While there have been plenty of things gained on the pitch, there have been special moments and memories made off it, too, as Maika highlights the love she has felt from her teammates since day one.

‘I have got to know people from all over the world,’ Hamano says. ‘Every person here has their own story and everyone is so different, but we are all sharing this experience together.

‘Everyone helped me. My teammates and the coaching staff. Everyone has such a warm heart.’

There are two people Maika has developed a special friendship with during her time at the club. They are defender Niamh Charles and forward Catarina Macario.

‘They have helped me a lot,’ Hamano said. ‘I learned a lot from them on and outside of the pitch. I really respect them. They say they are like my mum, but sometimes I feel like their mum when they are fighting!’

Tickets for our opening UEFA Women's Champions League match against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge are now on general sale! You can buy your ticket here.