LOAN ARRANGER: Sky Blue’s Kawasumi to play for Japanese club through the end of the year

Aug 15, 2020 | NJ/NY Gotham |

Nahomi Kawasumi will play in her third stint with INAC Kobe. (Photo courtesy of Sky Blue FC)

HARRISON, N.J. – Sky Blue FC Saturday announced it had reached agreement to loan midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi to Japanese club INAC Kobe.

The loan will run through Dec. 31.

Kawasumi joined Sky Blue FC in January 2019 and appeared in 19 matches last season. The Japanese international played every minute in all six games of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. She scored her first goal in a Sky Blue jersey from 40 yards against the eventual champions Houston Dash.

This will be Kawasumi’s third stint with INAC Kobe, as she made her professional debut with the Japanese side in 2006 and captained the squad to its first league title in 2011. Kawasumi also was named league MVP twice with INAC Kobe. Her second spell with the team came in 2014 on loan.

Last season, INAC Kobe finished third place in the Nadeshiko League 1 table at 9-4-5. They are in second place and are undefeated in three matches.

About The Author

Michael Lewis

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com at https://tinyurl.com/nfhdk4e5.