Tag: Aston Villa Women

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WSL

Natalie Arroyo and Aston Villa aim high after new signings join in Transfer Window

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photo taken from @astonvillawomen on instagram

The window as a whole has seen big names move across the league and from overseas with the season looking to be a special one. Ahead of the new season, the villains have had 15 movements as of 9/08 with five players leaving the club, a retirement and a loan spell away from the club for a young upcoming player. Jenna Nighswonger also returned to her parent club, Arsenal after her loan spell with the club during the season. They have signed seven players permanently with six coming from overseas showing a hunger for playing in the Women’s Super League and seeing the growth of the game over in England. 

The first player the side announced was Mia McAulay from Scottish side Rangers. The Scotland International brings experience on the international stage despite being young with the forward looking to settle down and score goals, helping the side get a high finish. Next in the office and signed her name on the contract was Kamilla Melgärd from Madrid CFF. She was with the side since 2024, with the midfielder currently a U23 Norwegian International also looking to bring international experience to the squad along with many other Scandinavian players. 

The next two Scandinavian players through the door were Amalie Vansgaard and Justine Kielland. Vansgaard comes from Juventus after being there for two years with the forward already having 46 caps for the Denmark National team. Kielland comes from VfL Wolfsburg after being with the side since 2024 and the defensive midfielder has experience in European, International and Domestic football bringing a different dynamic to the midlands. 

The side have also strengthened their goalkeeping ranks bringing in Emily Ramsey and Akane Okuma. Ramsey joined from Everton after being with the North West England side since 2022, and got her first senior international call up for England in 2023. She brings experience in the WSL meanwhile Akane Okuma has her first experience in the league. She joins from INAC Kobe Leonessa after being there for two years and has international experience for Japan alongside now club-teammate, Maya Hijikata. 

Finally, on a permanent signing, Centre-back Mathilde Harviken joins from Juventus after being with the side for 18 months. She made her senior debut for the Norway side in 2022 and has featured in the EURO 2025 championship as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. Lily Murphy was the most recent recruit after joining on loan from WSL side Manchester CIty. The forward has been with the side since 2022 and already brings European experience despite being so young. 

Aston Villa Team Celebration | photo taken from @astonvillawomen on instagram

Along with many incomings, there are always outgoings. Kirsty Hanson left the side after spending four seasons in the midlands and the forward joined Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the season. Young defender Lydia Sallaway joins Wrexham on loan for the season after spending last season on loan at Glasgow City. After a loan spell at Leicester City, Sarah Mayling joined the club permanently after starting in the academy and made over 100 appearances across two spells with the club. 

At the end of the season, Lucy Staniforth announced her retirement from professional football and therefore left the club with three more players leaving after their contract ended. Goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo went to Northern Super League club AFC Toronto and returned back to her home country, Canada. NWSL side Orlando Pride secured forward Gabi Nunes with Ebony Salmon joining WSL side West Ham United after their contracts ended. 

Overall, the club have had a successful window but will be impacted with the loss of their three forwards, Gabi Nunes, Ebony Salmon and Kirsty Hanson will all of them scoring in important games, especially during the previous season. Therefore, they might need more players with this calibre to fill in the void but the side hope to get a good start to the season to help with staying in the competitive league. 

Categories
WSL

SEVEN GOAL THRILLER SEES CHELSEA CLINCH THREE POINTS OVER ASTON VILLA

Image via @chelseafcw on Instagram

Chelsea FC:

Starting XI: Hampton (GK), Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, James, Thompson, Girma, Kaptein, Kerr, Bronze, Walsh © 

Substitutes: Cuthbert (53’), Baltimore (53’) Charles (73′), Potter (90′)

Aston Villa:

Starting XI: Roebuck (GK), Patten ©, Jean Francois, Wilms, Maritz, Hanson, Kendall, Grant, Deslandes, Taylor, Nighswonger

Substitutes: Hijikata (68′), Salmon (75′), D’Angelo (79′)

Chelsea FC hosted their final league game at Kingsmeadow this season earlier today in a bid to secure a spot in the leagues’ top three. The hosts have been in a battle with Manchester United since January for eventual third place in the league but with the recent Manchester derby seeing the North-West painted blue, Sonia Bompastor’s Blue’s are in high hopes for the closing stages of the season.

Last time the sides faced eachother, Chelsea won 3-1 with goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Keira Walsh and Sam Kerr cancelling out that of Ebony Salmon. The visitors sit in eighth in the league, with just 5 wins this season but with a win, draw and a loss in each of their last three games, the game is an open affair. 

Chelsea took kick off via Lauren James in South London however failed to prove any threat from the whistle, with Lynn Wilms linking up with Chasity Grant to find the opener for Aston Villa less than two minutes in.

A promising spell infront of goal came from Chelsea in the fifth minute, with Lauren James taking aim but beiong blocked by Lynn Wilms and the deflection rolling to Veerle Buurman, who shot just wide of goal.

Throughout the next ten minutes, both sides had equal effort infront of goal, with Chelsea winning the first corner of the game. Here the ball was layed off for Lauren James who shot from the edge of the box, Ellie Roebuck however, beat her antics, safely collecting the ball at the near post. It was from here on that Chelsea found their form, dominating in possession and upping their effortinfront of goal.

Sjoeke Nusken had another promising chance in the 17th minute, with Ellie Roebuck being forced into yet another crucial save.

Sam Kerr continued her stellar form from the Asian Cup and in the 20th minute, she broke free from the Villians defence to slot one past Ellie Roebuck to close the deficit.

Just two minutes later, Chelsea found the back of the net once again, this time from Lauren James, who linked up with Alyssa Thompson on a corner once again to give Chelsea the lead for the first time today.

Chelsea maintained their dominance in the following minutes, with Lauen James claiming the ball on the edge of the box and slotting the ball past the Villa keeper once more. That’s three goals in eight minutes for the current league champions.

Chelsea’s glory didn’t last for long however, with Aston Villa making an effort to close the gap in the 32nd minute, this time through Kirsty Hanson who did just that, making the score 3-2 to the Blues.

Just four minutes later, Villa broke through the Chelsea defence once again, with Kirsty Hanson finding her second and Villa’s third, closing the gap once again.

With a break in play due to a suspected injury on Sjoeke Nusken, both teams took the time to recalibrate, assumingly attempting to erase their defensive woes.

With three minutes added time on the clock, Aston Villa had one final push on goal, this however lead to nothing, with the Blue’s reclaiming possession and earning the final touch of the half.

Half time: Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa

With the second half underway, Chelsea looked slightly more dominant on the ball. Whilst failing to provide any real threat infront of goal, Alyssa Thompson did win a free kick for the hosts, this however led to nothing with the attempt being blocked.

In the 53rd minute, Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore took to the field, replacing Wieke Kaptein and Naomi Girma in an attempt to bolster the Blue’s attack from further back on the pitch.

Throughout the next ten minutes, Chelsea began their dominance in possession once again, with the ball rarely leaving Chelsea’s attacking third. Despite Lucy Bronze’s headed attempt on goal, the Blue’s were yet to find a difference maker.

In the 67th minute, Villa made their first substitution of the game, replacing Miri Taylor with Maya Hijikata in her return from the Asian Cup.

Chelsea had a few more promising chances on goal however, despite their best efforts, Ellie Roebuck’s experience was proven best throughout.

Before long, Niamh Charles made her return to the pitch, replacing Alyssa Thompson and taking her first competitive touches in more than three months due to injury.

Just two minutes later, Chastity Grant made way for Ebony Salmon before Ellie Roebuck was also forced off the field through injury, forcing Sabrina D’Angelo to the field.

In the 82nd minute, Chelsea came alive once more, with Sjoeke Nusken linking up with Chelsea’s Australian duo, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter to produce Chelsea’s fourth and final goal of the game.

The following stages followed much the same from both sides, with Aston Villa trying to equalise once again and Chelsea wanting to guarantee a victory.

For the villains, this meant a rattle of the bar from Kirsty Hanson as well as a missed header from Anna Patten in a desperate bid to squash the deficit once and for all. These both however proved too little too late, with the match finishing 4-3 to the hosts.

Full time: Chelsea 4-3 Aston Villa

Categories
England Women

Lucia Kendall: “I would love to get an opportunity and take everything in my stride.” 

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Lucia for the u23s | photo taken from @luciakendall on instagram

Lucia Kendall joined Aston Villa this summer from her childhood club, Southampton, and after her impressive start with her new side, Sarina Wiegman called up the youngster to the senior squad for the first time. 

When getting the all important call, she said “I was watching tv [when she got Sarina’s call] so I missed it! I got a message from Sarina so I called her back!” 

“I was surprised [about the call up] but I am excited!”

Hannah asked what it meant to her and her family about being called up to the squad: “I think it’s surreal and it doesn’t [really] feel true.” “The support that my family has shown me through so many years, to be able to call them and tell them that I’ve got a senior call up was pretty amazing.” 

“Just to see how proud they are of me as well. I want to pay them back and show them that all their dedication and stuff has got me here.” 

She watched her side win the European Championship in the summer and is enjoying being around the people who inspired her most. When walking into St George’s Park, you can see the European Championship Trophy and when speaking to the media about the Euros win, she said: “I think it’s surreal. I don’t think it’s really sunk in.” 

“I want to learn as much as possible. This team’s just gone and won back to back Euros so to be able to be in and around them and be in their environment is something I really didn’t think I’d get to do straight away and so soon.”

She wants to be pivotal in these homecoming series games and “wants to show what she’s about.” ”I would love to get an opportunity and take everything in my stride.” 

Lucia playing for Aston Villa | photo taken from @luciakendall on instagram

Her best piece of advice given in her career to date was: “It’s all about enjoying it! I play better when I enjoy playing and I’m not overthinking things.” 

“Being called up and moments like this remind you that these are the things you dreamt of when you’re a kid growing up.” 

The 21 year old midfielder made the switch to the midlands after making over 100 appearances for her old club Southampton, as well as sealing a non-league double in 2022. She scored 22 goals in 27 appearances for the south coast side and helped them reach WSL2 in the same year.

The move from Southampton to Villa has prepped her for another new environment and she likes to sit back and observe to find where she fits. She said to the media that she is “grateful for the trust Natalia [Arroyo] has had in me as a young player.” “ She is very passionate about the game.” 

Lucia said she “felt ready for the next step [on moving to Aston Villa in the summer]” She said the speed of the game is quicker and she sees herself naturally as a more defensive player but “wouldn’t pigeon hole herself to a set position.”

Kendall was previously in the under 23 set up and said “u23s have definitely prepared me well for this environment, I think they try and mirror as much as they can.” Coming into the senior set up: “the detail that the coaching staff and the players take in every aspect of the game has definitely struck me.” 

“There’s a clear pathway [to the senior set up]” “Players who have gone before me [Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever-Jones and Laura Blindkilde Brown], to know that the pathway is genuine is motivating and knowing if you take the right steps you’ll be given a chance.” 

“Both Laura [Blindkilde Brown] and Missy [Bo Kearns] have been really welcoming and good to me in this set up.” 

Outside of football, the youngster said “I take a while to come out of my shell, but when I do I’m probably a bit of an idiot.” She likes to keep her football stuff to football so when being away from it, she likes to play piano, cook, spend time with her family and friends and even has a degree in psychology. 

Lucia training | photo taken from @luciakendall on instagram