Tottenham Hotspur's decision to sign forward Hanson this summer is quietly shaping up to be one of the more astute pieces of business in the Women's Super League transfer window, even if it has flown somewhat under the radar compared to other high-profile deals across the division.
Hanson's rise to prominence came into full view last season, but her trajectory has been building steadily since she began developing as a player during her time helping shape Manchester United's fledgling professional women's team, before she found opportunities for regular football harder to come by. A move to Aston Villa, initially on loan in 2022, proved transformative. Arriving with her confidence low, Hanson used her four years at Villa Park to rebuild herself into one of the WSL's most productive attackers, scoring 26 goals in 100 appearances and picking up the club's player-of-the-season award twice.
Reflecting on her departure from Villa, Hanson made clear there were no hard feelings. "I've got to thank Villa so much. They know that I left on good terms. I really enjoyed my time," she told BBC Sport. "Everyone there helped me boost my confidence again. Hopefully, I can just build on that now, but I'm not putting pressure on myself."
She acknowledged the difficulty of leaving a club that had rebuilt her career, but pointed to Tottenham's growing ambition as the deciding factor. "It was obviously a very tough decision to leave Villa but just looking at Spurs, you could see their ambition and each season they have been improving," she said. The appointment of head coach Martin Ho also weighed heavily in her decision. "When they appointed Martin, I think that was a big statement because he is one of the best coaches I've worked with."
Tottenham finished fifth in the WSL last season and are targeting a top-three finish that would deliver Women's Champions League qualification. To bolster that push, the club has been busy in the market, adding West Ham's leading scorer Shekiera Martinez, France international defender Alice Sombath from Lyon, and creative midfielder Victoria Pelova, signed from rivals Arsenal.
The influx of talent means Hanson will face genuine competition for a starting spot, a prospect she says she welcomes rather than fears. "I'm definitely comfortable in the WSL now but I still don't see myself as one of the best. I'm very critical of myself," she said. "It's going to be tough. I'm not expecting anything. My main aim is just to be better because I've got so many levels to go to. Martin knows that as well." She added that she is eager to learn from her new teammates while also contributing to the squad's development, saying, "I might not be the most talented but I've got a lot of fight and hunger in me. I literally run through a brick wall for my team."
The numbers from last season underline why Spurs moved for her. Hanson was directly responsible for 43% of Aston Villa's goals and posted the best shots-on-target ratio among the league's top five scorers, at 50%. Only two teammates created more scoring chances than her tally of 16, and she led the squad in touches inside the opposition box. Defensively, she also ranked among the leading performers in her position for tackles and interceptions.
Off the pitch, Hanson holds a degree in sports coaching, which she believes has aided her tactical growth. "I know what to do at different points in the game. I know how to calm players down," she explained, adding that she has matured significantly since first working under Ho. "Previously when I worked with Martin, I was younger and I wouldn't have been able to cope with that as much. But now I've definitely matured a lot."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.