Momiki attracted by Leicester's vision and passion

Yuka Momiki believes Leicester will continue to grow after signing an 18-month contract with the club.

The striker has joined the Women's Super League outfit following the conclusion of her deal with Swedish side Linkoping.

And with Willie Kirk's team sitting comfortably in mid-table halfway through the campaign, their new recruit believes things are only going one way.

She said: "I am so excited to be here and want to play as soon as possible.

"I want the fans to see how happy I am to be here and I can’t wait to see everyone. England is the best country to play football in and this has always been my dream.

"The manager has passion and a vision for this project and that's why I came here. The club has specific goals and plans and everyone is following that philosophy."

The Japan international has played 40 times for her country, scoring 14 goals.

And she played the majority of her club football for Nippon YV Beleze before making the move to Sweden.

She hooks up with a Leicester side faring admirably in the WSL, despite going eight league matches without a win prior to the Christmas break.

They still sit five points clear of the relegation spot and have only lost four of their 10 games.

Momiki is not the first Japanese player to sign this month, with Saori Takarada also joining the club at the beginning of January.

Both players will hope to feature when their side take on Derby in the FA Cup next weekend.