Saki Kumagai needed only one appearance to make her first telling contribution for West Ham United Women. The Japan legend came off the bench during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham and helped create Viviane Asseyi‘s late goal, just two days after completing her move to east London.
Rita Guarino resisted throwing Kumagai straight into the starting XI after West Ham completed her Deadline Day signingon Friday.
The 35-year-old instead started among the substitutes at BetWright Stadium before being introduced during the second half.
West Ham were already facing an uphill battle by that stage, with Tottenham eventually winning 3-1, but Kumagai still managed to provide one of the few positives from a difficult opening afternoon.
Saki Kumagai makes immediate West Ham impression
Kumagai was involved in the move which ended with Asseyi finding the net late on, giving the experienced midfielder an immediate attacking contribution in claret and blue.
It was a brief cameo, but one which stood out enough for Kumagai to earn the highest mark in our West Ham Women player ratings against Tottenham.
Her pedigree was never in question.
West Ham’s official profile of Kumagai details a career containing five Women’s Champions League titles and nine domestic top-flight championships. She signed a one-year contract after leaving London City Lionesses and became Guarino’s tenth addition of an extraordinary summer rebuild.
That experience could become important very quickly.
West Ham’s next WSL fixture is against London City Lionesses at Victoria Road on Saturday 12 September, meaning Kumagai could make her first start for the Hammers against the club she left only days ago. West Ham have confirmed the game kicks off at 12.45pm.
Guarino therefore has an intriguing selection decision ahead.
Kumagai was given limited preparation time for Tottenham, so starting her immediately would have carried obvious risks.
A full week of training changes the equation.
After making an immediate contribution from the bench, the summer signing has already supplied her new manager with another reason to consider promoting her into the XI.
