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Aston Villa W.F.C.

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For the men's senior team, see Aston Villa F.C. For the men's U21 and Academy teams, see Aston Villa F.C. Under-21s and Academy.

Aston Villa W.F.C.
Aston Villa F.C. badge
Full nameAston Villa Women Football Club
NicknamesThe Villans, The Villa, The Lions
Short nameVilla, AVWFC
Founded1973; 52 years ago (1973) (as Solihull FC)
GroundVilla Park (league matches)[1]
Bescot Stadium (cup matches)
Capacity42,600
11,300
Owner(s)V Sports (90%)
Marc Zahr (10%)
ChairmanNassef Sawiris
ManagerNatalia Arroyo
LeagueWomen's Super League
2024–25WSL, 6th of 12
Websiteavfc.co.uk/avwfc
Current season

Aston Villa Women Football Club is the women's football team of Aston Villa, currently playing in the Women's Super League.[2] The club has been in existence since 1973. Originally titled Solihull F.C., the team affiliated to Aston Villa in 1989, becoming Villa Aztecs, and became the official Aston Villa women's side in 1996. The club have a senior team, a reserve team and several other teams of younger age groups under a Regional Talent Club FA license.

History

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Daphne van Domselaar saving a free kick for Tottenham Hotspur against Aston Villa, 21 October 2023; Aston Villa 2–4 Tottenham Hotspur.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park

Aston Villa Women Football Club was formed in 1973 as Solihull FC. When Aston Villa asked for help in forming a ladies team in 1989, Solihull responded. The club agreed to change their name in 1996 to become the officially recognised ladies team of Aston Villa.

As Villa Aztecs, they reached the 1995 League Cup Final but lost 2–0 to Wimbledon, and played in the 1995–96 FA Women's Premier League but were relegated.

The senior team, renamed to Aston Villa Ladies F.C., continued to play mainly in the 2nd-tier Northern Division. The club won promotion twice more and played in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in 1999–2000[3] and in 2003–04, but ended in the relegation zone in both seasons.

The Lady Villans won the Northern Division for the fourth time UTFV in 2011 and gained promotion to the WPL National Division,[4] which had become the 2nd tier below the FA WSL.

On 5 May 2013, the club had its greatest achievement by winning its first ever trophy, the Women's Premier League Cup, beating Leeds United Ladies 5–4 on penalties.[5]

In 2014 they were one of ten teams who were elected to WSL2,[6] and in 2018 to the Women's Championship.[7]

On 4 July 2019, the team was renamed Aston Villa Women F.C., CEO Christian Purslow, said that the name "aligns more appropriately with women’s football in this country".[8] On the same day, Chief Commercial Officer, Nicola Ibbetson, was elected to the FA WSL and Women's Championship board - making Aston Villa Women one of only two Championship clubs to have a representative on the board.[9]

Aston Villa face Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium, 2023
Aston Villa 2–2 Tottenham Hotspur, 29 September 2024, Villa Park

In 2019–20, Villa won promotion to the WSL and entered the top flight of women's football for the first time since 2004.[10] For the 2022-23 Women's Super League season the women played four of their eleven home matches at Villa Park, where the men's team play. For the 2024-2025 season, the club announced they would play all home League fixtures at Villa Park.

On 21 October 2025, V Sports, owners of Aston Villa, announced the sale of a 10% stake in Aston Villa Women to Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital.[11][12]

Players

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First team squad

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As of 25 July 2025.[13][14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  CAN Sabrina D'Angelo
2 DF  ENG Sarah Mayling
3 DF  ESP Paula Tomás
4 DF  IRL Anna Patten
5 MF  ENG Lucy Staniforth
7 MF  ENG Missy Bo Kearns
8 MF  NED Jill Baijings
9 FW  ENG Rachel Daly
10 FW  BRA Gabi Nunes
13 FW  JPN Maya Hijikata
14 DF  NED Lynn Wilms
15 DF  ENG Lucy Parker
16 DF  SUI Noelle Maritz
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  ENG Ebony Salmon
18 FW  ENG Georgia Mullett
20 FW  SCO Kirsty Hanson
21 MF  ENG Lucia Kendall
22 DF  ENG Lydia Sallaway
23 FW  NED Chasity Grant
24 DF  FRA Océane Deslandes
25 MF  SCO Miri Taylor
26 GK  ENG Ellie Roebuck
38 DF  ENG Rachel Maltby
40 GK  WAL Soffia Kelly
42 GK  ENG Lily Clark
43 DF  ENG Katie Scott

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
11 FW  ENG Katie Robinson (at Everton until 30 June 2026)

Former players

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For details of current and former players, see Category:Aston Villa W.F.C. players.

Honours

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Nadine Hanssen (left) in Aston Villa's 2018 game at Lewes F.C. Women

Non-playing staff

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Corporate hierarchy

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Source:[15]
Position Name
Executive Chairman Nassef Sawiris
Co-chairman Wes Edens
President of Business Operations Chris Heck[16][17]
President of Football Operations Roberto Olabe[18]

Management hierarchy

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Position Name
Director of Women's Football Marisa Ewers
Manager Natalia Arroyo
Assistant First Team Coach Jessie van den Broek
Assistant First Team Coach Shaun Goater
Goalkeeper Coach Chris Stygal
Club Doctor Fadi Hassan
Lead Physiotherapist Dan Dagia
Physical Performance Lead Kirsty Frick

Regional Talent Club

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The club also run several other teams under the auspices of an FA Tier Two Regional Talent Club. This centre aims to develop the talent from within the local area. The RTC teams include an under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and development squad

In August 2010, Aston Villa Women FC supplied eight players to a 30-strong England Under-17 training camp.[19]

Managers

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Dates Name
2018–2021 England Gemma Davies
2021 England Marcus Bignot (interim)
2021–2024 England Carla Ward
2024 Netherlands Robert de Pauw
2024–2025 Bermuda Shaun Goater (interim)
2025– Spain Natalia Arroyo

References

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  1. ^ "Villa Park to be main stadium for Villa Women". Aston Villa FC. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  2. ^ "2012/13 National Division table". FA. Retrieved 30 July 2013.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "About Aston Villa Ladies football club". AVLFC. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2007.
  4. ^ "2010/11 Northern Division table". FA. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  5. ^ "2012/13 FA Women's Premier League Cup fixtures". FA. Retrieved 30 July 2013.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "INTRODUCING ASTON VILLA LADIES". FA Women's Super League. Aston villa women's team have won 18 major trophies. The FA. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Villa Secure Place in FA Women's Championship". Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  8. ^ Styles, Greg (4 July 2019). "Aston Villa Ladies become Aston Villa Women ahead of new season". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Aston Villa Ladies become Aston Villa Women ahead of new season". avfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  10. ^ Zack, Spector (9 September 2020). "Cheap football Shirts". Aston Villa Women F.C: Life in the top-flight. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  11. ^ Maher, Matt (30 June 2025). "Explained: Aston Villa to avoid PSR 'fire sale' by striking £55m deal for women's team". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  12. ^ Club, Aston Villa Football (21 October 2025). "Investment made into Aston Villa Women". Aston Villa Football Club. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Aston Villa Women's Team". Aston Villa FC. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Our 2024/25 squad numbers are locked in🔢💜". Aston Villa Women. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Who's who". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  16. ^ "V Sports and Aston Villa announce Chris Heck appointment". Aston Villa Football Club. 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  17. ^ Evans, Gregg (12 June 2023). "Villa CEO Purslow leaves club". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Club Statement". Aston Villa Football Club. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Training camp squad selected". TheFA.com. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
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