Aston Villa head into the new Women's Super League season aiming to build on a promising foundation laid during Natalia Arroyo's first campaign in charge, even after a disappointing ninth-place finish last time out. Guardian writers have again tipped the Midlands club to finish ninth this season, but there remains a sense of optimism around Villa Park given the exciting, if unfinished, project the Spanish coach is constructing.
Arroyo has used the summer to continue reshaping the squad in line with her preferred direct, attacking style of play. Several experienced figures have departed, including Sarah Mayling, Sabrina D'Angelo and Ebony Salmon, while long-serving midfielder Lucy Staniforth has retired. In their place, Villa have brought in a wave of youthful talent, among them Akane Okuma, Kamilla Melgård and Mia McAulay, alongside England Under-20 international Lily Murphy on loan.
The most significant departure, however, is that of Kirsty Hanson, who accounted for nearly 43% of Villa's goals last season. Replacing that attacking output will be one of Arroyo's biggest challenges heading into the new campaign. There is some cause for encouragement in the return to fitness of Rachel Daly, while the acquisition of the experienced Amalie Vangsgaard should add further attacking depth.
Defence remains the area of greatest concern. Villa had the second-leakiest backline in the WSL last season, and statistics show a particular vulnerability inside their own penalty area, where 75.9% of shots conceded came from – well above the division's average of 68.6%. That represented the worst rate in the league and helps explain why Villa conceded more goals from inside their box than even relegated Leicester City.
To address these defensive issues, Villa moved for Norway international Mathilde Harviken, regarded as their marquee signing of the summer. The 24-year-old centre-back joins from Juventus, where she made close to 50 appearances and won the Serie A title in 2024-25. Known for her proactive defending and composed distribution, Harviken has represented Norway since she was 20 and featured at both the 2023 World Cup and 2025 European Championship.
Among the club's emerging talents, 20-year-old Kamilla Melgård is tipped for a breakout campaign. The versatile midfielder, who can operate centrally or out wide, arrives after two seasons in Spain's Liga F with Madrid CFF and has already shown flashes of her quality, including a standout display in a recent friendly against Paris FC. A full Norway youth international, she is now part of the nation's under-23 setup.
Arroyo, entering her second full season at the helm, remains a distinctive and energetic presence on the touchline, unafraid to trust young players — as seen last season with the emergence of academy products Lucia Kendall and Rachel Maltby. Reflecting on the mentality within her squad, Arroyo said: "You can feel that we are building an honest team, a hard-working team, players that are committed to the idea, they understand that we are facing an important year for us."
Off the pitch, Villa's women's team continues to operate as an independent entity within the club, with managing director Maggie Murphy emphasising efforts to strengthen ties with supporters. Initiatives last season included partnerships with Level Playing Field, an International Women's Day event, and a clothing collaboration with AFTA Studios, while Birmingham-based charity Saathi House featured on the front of Villa's shirt during the World Sevens Tournament.
Villa Park will continue to host all WSL fixtures, with Keys Park in Hednesford staging cup matches. The club has introduced several ticketing initiatives for the new season, including frozen prices, a new 18-25 category, a four-match bundle offer, and the return of the 82 Champions Club hospitality package.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.