Yukari Kinga近賀 ゆかり

Yukari Kinga (近賀 ゆかり, Kinga Yukari, born 2 May 1984) is a Japanese football player. She is currently playing as a defender for Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina in the WE League. She played for Japan national team.

Club Career

In Japan until 2013

Kinga was born in Yokohama on 2 May 1984. After graduating from high school, she joined Nippon TV Beleza in 2003. She was playing as attacking midfielder and right-winger. In 2003 season, she was selected Best Young Player awards. From 2007, she was converted to right-sideback. The club won L.League championship 5 times. In 2011, she moved to INAC Kobe Leonessa with international player Homare Sawa, Shinobu Ohno and Chiaki Minamiyama for due to financial strain at the club. At INAC Kobe Leonessa, the club won L.League championship for 3 years in a row (2011–2013). She was selected Best Eleven for 6 years in a row (2007–2012).

From 2014

In January 2014, INAC's general manager revealed that Kinga had agreed to join English FA WSL club Arsenal Ladies and in February she officially signed the contract. At Arsenal Kinga helped propel the club to reach the final of the 2014 FA Women's Cup which they won in a 2–0 margin over Everton.

She re-signed with INAC Kobe in early 2015. In 2016, she began playing in the Australian W-League for Canberra United. In October 2017, Kinga joined defending champions Melbourne City. In February 2019, she returned Japan and joined Orca Kamogawa FC. In October 2019, Kinga re-signed with Melbourne City. In February 2020, it was announced that Kinga would re-sign with Orca Kamogawa at the end of the 2019–20 W-League season.