Women’s Super League 2026-27 preview No 2: Aston Villa

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 9th (NB: this is not necessarily Sophie Downey’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 9th

Prospects

Last season was a frustrating one for Aston Villa and a ninth-place finish will have been disappointing for the club and fans. Nevertheless, under Natalia Arroyo, there has always been something about Villa that catches the eye – a work in progress that is full of youthful exuberance, far from the finished product yet clearly full of potential. It is that promise that means there will again be considerable excitement going into Arroyo’s second season in charge.

It has been a summer of change that has allowed the Spaniard to continue to rebuild the team in her image, one that will suit the distinct brand of direct football she favours. Several stalwarts have moved on, with Sarah Mayling, Sabrina D’Angelo and Ebony Salmon departing and Lucy Staniforth retiring. Young talents such as Akane Okuma, Kamilla Melgård and Mia McAulay have been recruited, while England Under-20 international Lily Murphy has come in on loan.

The big blow for Arroyo will have been the departure of Kirsty Hanson. The 28-year-old was responsible for almost 43% of Villa’s goals last season and figuring out how to replace that output will be the head coach’s biggest task. The return of Rachel Daly to full fitness is a boost while the experience of Amalie Vangsgaard is a useful acquisition. Defensively is where the biggest questions continue to lie. Villa possessed the second-leakiest backline in the division last season – they will need to tighten up to have any hope of moving up the table.

Off-field picture

Villa’s work away from the pitch continues to grow, with the women’s team operating as an independent entity. The managing director, Maggie Murphy, said that reconnecting with the fanbase has been at the forefront of the club’s efforts and that has been evident. Last season brought collaborations with Level Playing Field, an International Women’s Day event and a women’s clothing range launched with AFTA Studios. Saathi House, a foundation working to empower women, young people and migrant communities in Birmingham, featured on the front of the shirt during the World Sevens Tournament.

The manager

Arroyo’s first 18 months in the Women’s Super League have been full of ups and downs, but there is no doubt the charismatic head coach brings something different. She is a constant bundle of energy, living every moment in her technical area. Arroyo has a clear vision for what she wants and her direct style of in-possession play, using pacy forwards to attack the spaces behind the opposition, has been well-defined. She is unafraid to put her faith in young players, illustrated by the emergence of Lucia Kendall and Rachel Maltby last season.

Star signing

The arrival of Mathilde Harviken is a strong solution to Villa’s defensive woes given the Norway centre-back’s front-foot approach to defending and good distribution. Despite being only 24, she brings with her a wealth of experience. She signed from Juventus, where she made close to 50 appearances and lifted the Serie A title in 2024-2025. Harviken has represented her country since the age of 20, featuring at the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Euros.

Stat attack

Villa have work to do defensively. While only five teams scored more WSL goals last season, relegated Leicester were the only side with a worse defensive record. The penalty area appears to be the problem; 75.9% of the shots Villa conceded were in the area, against a division-wide average of 68.6%. Their league-worst rate helps to explain why they allowed more goals from within their penalty area than Leicester.

Set for a breakthrough

Aged 20, Melgård is among a crop of young talents that have emerged from Norway in the past few years. She joins Villa after two years in Liga F with Madrid CFF. A versatile midfielder, Melgård can play in the centre or on the wing and has an eye for goal, as shown in Villa’s recent friendly against Paris FC. She has represented Norway from under-16 level and is now part of their under-23 contingent.

What they say …

“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,” – Arroyo.

Where are they playing their home games?

Villa Park remains home for all WSL fixtures, while Hednesford’s Keys Park Stadium will host cup games. There has been plenty of initiatives around ticketing for Villa Park this summer, with prices frozen, a new 18-25 category, a new four-match bundle offer and the return of the 82 Champions Club hospitality. Drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will continue to be allowed inside the stadium, with an alcohol-free zone established.