Los Angeles Sol to sign Japan’s Aya Miyama

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The Los Angeles Sol of Women’s Professional Soccer on Wednesday will announce the signing of Japanese international midfielder Aya Miyama.

Miyama, 24, will become the second foreign international to be signed by the WPS team following the recent addition of standout Brazilian striker Marta.

Miyama, a midfielder from Chiba, Japan, last played club soccer for Okayama Yunogo Belle, but it was the two free kicks goals she scored against England at the 2007 Women’s World Cup that put her on the international map.

The second of those goals, also from distance like the first, was scored on literally the last kick of the game. You can see the two goals, as well as two by England’s Kelly Smith, on this video. Miyama also turned in a strong performance at the Beijing Olympic Games last year, making her even more attractive to WPS. She has played 20 games for Japan.

Charlie Naimo, the Sol’s general manager, said the acquisition of Miyama ‘represents a big step’ for the Los Angeles team, whose midfield already features U.S. internationals Shannon Boxx and Aly Wagner.

The Sol, which will begin preseason training on March 1, will play the Washington Freedom on March 29 at the Home Depot Center in the inaugural WPS game.

-- Grahame L. Jones