Miyabi Moriya


Miyabi Moriya is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right back for the Utah Royals of the National Women's Soccer League and the Japan national team. She previously played for WE League club INAC Kobe Leonessa and NWSL club Angel City FC.

Club career

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Moriya made her WE League debut on 26 September 2021. Since making her professional debut in 2015, Moriya scored eight goals in 118 match appearances for INAC Kobe Leonessa of the Japanese WE League, helping the club win their first ever WE League title in 2022. In the 2023 season, Moriya was awarded 2023 WE League Valuable Player and was also named to the 2023 WE League Best XI.

Angel City FC

On 31 January 2025, Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League announced they had acquired Moriya for an undisclosed fee and signed her to a one-year contract with a club option for 2026. Moriya made her debut for Angel City on 16 March, coming on a substitute in the home opener against San Diego Wave FC to close out the match and secure a 1–1 draw. Moriya recorded her first assist for Angel City on 1 September 2025, delivering a corner kick which was headed in by teammate Maiara Niehues, which was the eventual game winner to secure a 2–1 win over Bay FC. After making 25 appearances in her first season in the NWSL, Moriya departed from Angel City upon the expiration of her contract.

Utah Royals

On 2 December 2025, fellow NWSL club Utah Royals signed Moriya to a one-year, salary cap-exempt contract through the end of 2026.

International career

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. On July 26, 2023, she made her first World Cup appearance in Japan's second-round 2–0 victory over Costa Rica in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C.
On 14 June 2024, Moriya was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Moriya was a part of the Japan squad that competed at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup where Japan defeated the hosts, the United States in a 2–1 victory on February 26, 2025, to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 October 2023Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan5–07–02024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
21 November 2023Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan2–02–02024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Honours

Japan

INAC Kobe Leonessa
Individual
  • WE League Best XI: 2022–23
  • WE League Valuable Player Award: 2022–23