“She is a goalkeeper who comes from another culture and has found it very difficult to adapt, both to the language and the style of football. Players who take the step of leaving their comfort zone are very brave, and she has a lot of quality,” confessed Irene Ferreras after losing to FC Barcelona (0-2) in the Andalusian side's last Liga F Moeve match. It was a clash in which Chika Hirao (Matsudo, 31 December 1996) shone between the sticks with eight saves, in what was one of her best matches as Granada CF's goalkeeper. However, her adaptation to the Nazarí side has not been easy at all. Arriving last summer on a free transfer from Japan's Albirex Niigata, the goalkeeper, who was experiencing her first time away from her home country, started the championship as a starter, with four matches in which she made nine saves and conceded five goals. The Japanese goalkeeper, who raised doubts and wasn't quite performing at her best between the sticks, was dropped to the bench for Laura Sánchez, and did not return to the starting XI until the Copa de la Reina match and the fifteenth matchday due to a teammate's injury.

Once again, Irene Ferreras opted for the Japanese goalkeeper, who made two saves and kept her first clean sheet in the 0-2 victory against RCD Espanyol. In these last three matchdays, she has regained her starting spot, keeping another two clean sheets against SD Eibar (0-2) and Levante UD (1-0), and putting on a masterclass of saves in the 0-2 defeat against FC Barcelona. The Japanese goalkeeper has made nineteen saves in these three matches, demonstrating her high quality between the sticks. “During the first part of the season, we didn't quite see the level she has. Now she has had more game time, and we've seen the level she truly possesses,” expressed the Madrid-born coach. Her competition with Laura Sánchez is fierce, and both goalkeepers have had their opportunities throughout the season, being key to Granada CF having a magnificent season.

The young Spanish goalkeeper has played 1,170 minutes across thirteen Liga F Moeve matches, in which she has conceded 24 goals (1.8 per match) and made 44 saves (3.4 per match). Furthermore, the player from Argamasilla de Alba has kept a clean sheet on three occasions and can boast of having saved a penalty this season. For her part, Chika Hirao, who has steadily improved, has played 720 minutes in seven domestic competition matches. The Japanese goalkeeper has only conceded 7 goals (0.9 per match) and has made 30 saves (3.8 per match). In total, the goalkeeper has kept three clean sheets. “We have both goalkeepers on form, and ultimately, when one competes well, the other watches from the bench, and that is always positive,” Irene Ferreras highlighted again, delighted with the performance of both goalkeepers.

Her participation in the Copa Asia

The Japanese goalkeeper arrived at Granada CF with extensive international experience. The goalkeeper has been part of the Japan national team squad call-ups since 2018, having attended the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, as well as the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Furthermore, Chika Hirao can proudly boast of being a SheBelieves Cup 2025 champion. She has 14 international caps for her country, including the latest in this Copa Asia, where she has become the only Liga F Moeve player participating in the tournament. The event is being held from 1 to 21 March in Australia. The Japanese national team was drawn into Group C, where they have finished top of the group after beating China Taipei (2-0), India (0-11), with the Nazarí goalkeeper in goal, and Vietnam (4-0). Their opponent in the quarter-finals will be the Philippines on Sunday 15 March at 06:00h.

If they qualify for the semi-finals, they will face the winner of South Korea - Uzbekistan on Tuesday 17 or Wednesday 18 March, while the final will be played on Saturday 21 March in Sydney. “She is an international player who often has to leave. Just as she's starting to find her rhythm, she has to leave for the national team, and we lose her for a few weeks, which isn't easy for her at all. I'm happy for her personally,” concluded Irene Ferreras, who this March will once again lose her goalkeeper for one or two matches if they reach the final. However, the Madrid-born coach will have the goal well covered with Laura Sánchez, who will try to once again demonstrate her high quality as a starter, and academy player Alba Ibáñez, who will be on the bench due to a possible injury to her teammate. All this, while Chika Hirao aims to be crowned champion of Asia.