Hearts of Pine are excited to announce an agreement for the transfer of Japanese defender Eiji Hata from Houston Dynamo 2.
“We are really excited to sign Eiji,” said Bobby Murphy, “He is a player we were tracking during the off-season and we think he’ll be a great fit here. His connection to Titus, Mo, Diego, and Sashi should make his transition smoother and we can’t wait to get him in front of our fans at Fitzpatrick.”
After developing through Japanese club soccer with Yokohama F Marinos and Maebashi Ikuei, Hata arrived in the US and earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors at Phoenix College, where he recorded 38 appearances with four goals and 10 assists. He then transferred to Seattle University for his junior and senior seasons alongside Mo Mohamed and Titus Washington, posting 33 appearances and five assists while helping the Redhawks win the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Tournament title and earn a berth into the NCAA Division I Championship. In March 2026, Hata signed with Houston Dynamo 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, bringing his work rate and versatility to the professional ranks.
All signings are pending league and federation approval. Keep up to date with the full 2026 Roster here. For more updates, visit the club’s website and follow the club on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook.