After a successful campaign in 2022/23 which saw the club’s best finish of 5th in the Women’s Super League, record attendances and season ticket sales. Carla Ward’s Aston Villa are looking to push on in the coming season and close the gap on the top four sides in the division.
Notable performances from summer signings Kenza Dali, Danielle Turner and the record-equalling golden boot winner Rachel Daly as well as loan signings Anna Patten and Kirsty Hanson made it a season to remember. Reaching the FA Cup Semi-Final following a narrow defeat to Chelsea and first wins over sides like Arsenal and Manchester City in the Super League highlighted just how far the side had gone.
Players were rewarded for their performances with call-ups to represent their countries at the World Cup this summer. Rachel Daly, Hannah Hampton and Jordan Nobbs were called up to represent England while Lucy Staniforth was on standby. Kenza Dali will represent France, Ruesha Littlejohn representing Ireland in their first World Cup and Alisha Lehmann representing Switzerland this could be a summer to remember.
New contracts were handed out to Sarah Mayling and Dali and let’s not forget manager Ward committing her future to the club.
Departures
As with all teams, there was always going to be some departures as the club looked to step up to the next level. Midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn, forwards Emily Gielnik, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and former Captain Remi Allen were all released as their contracts come to an end.
Hampton also chose not to renew as she opted to join League Champions Chelsea so it would be fair to say that Villa will be busy in the transfer market.
Incomings
Daphne Van Domselaar
Ward’s first signing this summer came in the form of Netherlands number 1, Daphne Van Domselaar also known as DVD who joined the club from Dutch club FC Twente Vrouwen, where she had previously spent 6 years.
DVD signed a 3-year contract at Villa seeing her stay at the club until 2026. The 23-year-old goalkeeper replaced the injured Sari van Veenendaal in the first game for the Netherlands at last year’s European Championship and has become their number 1 ever since.
Villa fans will be hoping she can show why she is her country’s goalkeeper and become a fan favourite at Villa.
Lucy Parker
The next through the door was England defender Lucy Parker who joined the club for free after leaving West Ham at the end of her contract. The 24-year-old signed a 2-year contract with an option for a further year.
Parker began her youth career at Arsenal, before leaving for America in 2017 where she played College football for 4 years before signing her first professional contract at West Ham in 2021. She was given the number 15 shirt for the season the same number she wore at West Ham.
Anna Patten
Anna Patten joined the club for her third spell with the club following her previous two loan spells. Patten’s first loan spell was cut short when she joined in January 2022 due to illness but she returned the following season where she quickly became a fan favourite.
The childhood Arsenal fan has signed a 3-year deal and fans will be pleased as many called for her loan to be made permanent.
Preview
With the squad looking a little light following this summer’s departures I am sure more incomings will follow to increase the quality and competition. With the World Cup currently taking centre attention, I can’t imagine any more signings until the competition comes to its end.
Fans would like Scottish winger Kirsty Hanson to follow Patten and turn her loan deal into a permanent deal. The 25-year-old joined Villa on a season-long loan on deadline day last summer and had a very successful campaign in Claret and Blue scoring 8 goals and assisting 10. She came second in the team for goal contributions with only golden boot winner Rachel Daly bettering her tally.
With the transfer window open until Thursday, 14th September there is still ample time for Ward to work her magic.
Villa will also be hoping to increase the attendance this season with the club announcing they have already sold more season tickets for the coming season than they did last season.
Villa will begin their new campaign against last season’s runners-up Manchester United at Villa Park where they look to cause a first-game upset for the second season running against one of the top 4 teams. Villas campaign begins Sunday 1st October with a 12:30 kick-off.
