The Lion City Sailors Women’s Team have strengthened their ranks with four new foreign signings, adding steel and power as they prepare for their maiden Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) Group Stage campaign in Vietnam.

The three-time Women’s Premier League (WPL) champions will kick off Group A action against Australia’s Melbourne City on Thursday (13 November), before taking on hosts Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC on Sunday (16 November) and Philippines’ Stallion Laguna the following Wednesday (19 November).

Former China youth international Wang Jiaxin joins the Sailors to reinforce a defence marshalled by captain Umairah Hamdan. Known for her tenacious style of play and dominance in the air, the 22-year-old centre-back cuts a composed figure at the back and has the ability to launch attacks with precise long passes.

Also arriving from China is 21-year-old midfielder Zhang Qiaoling, who brings added presence to a midfield anchored by local talents such as Qarissa Putri and Nurhidayu Naszri.

A former Hainan University Women’s Football Team player, Qiaoling is adept at dictating the tempo of play and possesses superb technical ability.

Joining Qiaoling in the middle of the park is Rivka Ramji, a rising talent from India who is known for her two-footedness, dynamism, and creativity in the attacking third.

The teenager was part of the India Under-19 team that won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Women’s Championship last February, and featured in the top-tier Indian Women’s League with Sethu FC in the 2024/25 season.

Completing the Sailors’ new foreign quartet is Japan’s Hikaru Shibusawa, a dependable centre-back who brings experience from the top-tier WE (Women’s Empowerment) League, where she represented Omiya Ardija Ventus between 2021 and 2023.

The 25-year-old, a former Japan Under-19 international, had been playing in the second-tier Nadeshiko League with Bunnys Gunma FC White Star over the past two seasons.

Familiar returning faces and new locals

Hikaru joins compatriots Ami Takeuchi and Eri Kitagawa, who return to the fold after impressing for the Sailors during Preliminary Stage, where they won all three matches to become the first Singaporean club to qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) Group Stage.

Nineteen-year-old Ami was particularly outstanding, as she scored in all three matches against Etihad Club, Kelana United, and SDYUSHOR SI–Asiagoal.

The other three Japanese players from that campaign — Sakurako Ohashi, Riari Kitaoka, and Miyu Inayama — have since returned to Toyo University.

The Sailors have further strengthened their squad with the addition of three local national players.

Defender Irsalina Irwan has been promoted to the senior team after helping Mattar Sailors clinch the second-tier Women’s National League (WNL) title, while goalkeeper Alysha Nasrina joins from Geylang International to provide more options between the posts.

Speedy forward Nicole Lim also returns to the club where she made her WPL debut in 2022.

However, three key players will miss this campaign, with Beatrice Tan and Putri Alyiah Seow both sidelined by long-term injuries, while Sarah Zu’risqha is unavailable due to work commitments.

The 25-strong Sailors squad will depart for Vietnam on Tuesday (11 November), and Head Coach Daniel Ong believes his side are well-equipped for a competitive campaign. 

“Firstly, I’d like to thank the management for their support in bringing these players in. We’re coming up against some of the region’s finest teams at this level, so we had to ensure we assembled a squad capable of competing both physically and technically,” said the 36-year-old.

“Our performances in the Preliminary Stage have given us the confidence heading into the Group Stage, and we’re determined to keep flying the Singapore flag high on this stage. The camaraderie within the team is really strong, and we’re all looking forward to creating more history for Singapore women’s football.”

Lion City Sailors’ squad for 2025/26 AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) Group Stage 

Goalkeepers

Izairida Shakira, Hazel Lim, Alysha Nasrina

Defenders

Wang Jiaxin*, Hikaru Shibusawa*, Umairah Hamdan, Siti Nurerwadah Erwan, Syazwani Ruzi, Khairunnisa Anwar, Irsalina Irwan

Midfielders

Zhang Qiaoling*, Rivka Ramji*, Qarissa Putri, Ho Hui Xin, Nurhidayu Naszri, Dhaniyah Qasimah, Wan Nashirah Mohammed, Amelia Ng, Nur Ain Salleh

Forwards

Eri Kitagawa*, Ami Takeuchi*, Raeka Ee, Farah Nurzahirah, Dorcas Chu, Nicole Lim