Maya Hijikata finally ended her Aston Villa goal wait as Natalia Arroyo’s side secured a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Subway Players Cup.
The Japan international broke the deadlock in the 66th minute at The City Ground before Chasity Grant added Villa’s second late on.
It was a significant moment for Hijikata, who went through her first Women’s Super League season with Villa without finding the net.
Her breakthrough also helped deliver Arroyo’s first competitive victory of the new campaign.
Maya Hijikata finally gets Aston Villa reward
Hijikata joined Villa from Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2025 after establishing herself as one of Japan’s most promising young attackers.
Her first season in England proved more difficult in front of goal.
The official WSL player profile records 12 league appearances without a goal during 2025/26, despite Hijikata regularly featuring in Villa’s attacking setup.
There was evidence elsewhere that the finishing ability remained.
Hijikata scored her first senior international goal for Japan during March’s Asian Cup, with the Japan Football Association detailing her strike in the 11-0 victory over India.
The challenge was translating that output back into club football.
She remained involved in Arroyo’s plans at the beginning of the new season and started Villa’s opening-day draw away to Chelsea, but the goal had still not arrived.
That changed against Forest.
Forest goal could strengthen Hijikata role
Hijikata had been identified as one of the attacking players likely to retain a prominent role when Villa rotated for the cup tie, with our predicted XI highlighting her ability to connect midfield and attack.
She ultimately made the decisive contribution.
Villa had been held goalless through the opening hour before Hijikata provided the breakthrough, giving Arroyo’s side control of a match they eventually won 2-0.
That matters in a Villa attack carrying considerably more competition than last season.
Amalie Vangsgaard arrived during the summer rebuild, while Grant, Lily Murphy and Mia McAulay are all competing for places around the front line.
Villa’s new-look attacking options were one of the major questions heading into the season, particularly after an extensive summer overhaul.
Hijikata now has a tangible contribution to strengthen her case.
One cup goal will not decide Arroyo’s attacking hierarchy, but ending a long wait can be important for a player who has continued to earn minutes without consistently producing numbers.
The next challenge is making sure the Forest breakthrough is the start of a run rather than an isolated moment.
