Honoka Hayashi

is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Everton and the Japan national team.

A full international since 2019, she represented Japan at the 2020 Olympics and the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Early life Hayashi was born in Uji, just south of central Kyoto in Japan. She started playing football for Shinmei JSC Sports Boy Scouts at the age of five. As an eleven-year-old, she was invited to a national team camp for U12 players by the Japan Football Association. At the age of 15, Hayashi moved to Osaka and she started playing with Cerezo Osaka's U15 team.

Club career

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Hayashi begun her career with Cerezo Osaka Sakai in 2013 as they entered the second division Challenge League. She was appointed club captain in 2017 and led her club to promotion to the Nadeshiko League Division 1 by the end of the season and won the Division 2 Nadeshiko League Cup.

AIK Fotboll On 16 December 2020, Hayashi signed a contract with Swedish Damallsvenskan side AIK Fotboll. She made her friendly debut in their pre-season tournament Stockholm Volkswagen Challenge. Hayashi made her league debut against Växjö on 17 April 2021. On 2 May 2021, she scored her first competitive goals for the club against Djurgårdens IF, scoring in the 57th, and scoring a penalty in the 79th minute. On June 5, 2021, she netted a freekick goal against KIF Örebro that would see her nominated for goal of the year by Sportbladet. In total, she made 36 appearances for the club and netted 7 goals. She made her league debut against Everton on 18 September 2022. She scored her first goal for the club in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa on 15 October 2022. On 30 June 2024, it was announced that Hayashi would leave the club when her contract expired.

Everton On 24 July 2024, Hayashi signed for Everton. On 7 December 2025, she scored the goal that ended Chelsea's unbeaten streak, the longest in Super League history at 34 matches, with Everton winning 1–0. On 6 February 2026, Hayashi signed a one and a half year contract extension with the club, with a club option of a further year.

International career Hayashi received her first international call-up in December 2019. On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA World Cup 2023. She scored her first international goal in Japan's 2–1 win against Sweden in the quarterfinal. On 14 June 2024, she was included in the 2024 Summer Olympics squad.

Hayashi was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hayashi goal.

Honours Cerezo Osaka Sakai

Nadeshiko League Cup Division 2: 2017, 2019

Japan U20

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018

Japan

AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2026 EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2019, 2022