The 2025/26 Women’s Super League season is set to kick off soon, with Aston Villa having undergone a summer of changes fuelled with ambition.
Last season, Aston Villa faced a season of inconsistency, starting the campaign with early struggles under the new management of Robert de Pauw. However, after Natalia Arroyo took over and the side endured a six-game defeat streak, they recorded wins against Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, Brighton, and West Ham, bolstering their chances of mid-table success. Whilst the side struggled to find consistency, the management changes played a significant part in the mid-table finish.
Following an unbeaten run of five games at the end of last season, Natalia Arroyo will remain in charge ahead of what is sure to be an exciting campaign for Villa, continuing to display her preferred high-intensity attacking style.
The Halfway Line previews what you can expect ahead of Chelsea’s 2025/26 Women’s Super League (WSL) season.
Exciting summer signings for Aston Villa
The club has seen departures from four experienced players following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, those turnovers being: Jordan Nobbs, Danielle Turner and Rachel Corsie.
Following a successful transfer window this summer, Villa have also added six new players to their squad, comprising a mix of international experience and youngsters looking to gain experience in the top league. The signings include Lynn Wilms, Ellie Roebuck, Oceane Deslands, Lucia Kendall, Jill Baijings and Maya Hijikata.
Embed from Getty Images
Aston Villa Players to watch
One of Villa’s headline signings during the summer was ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, who returns to the WSL after enduring a few setbacks with injuries over the last few years. Roebuck is an experienced keeper, keeping six clean sheets for the Lionesses and five clean sheets when playing for Manchester City in the 2022/23 season. Her distribution and experience in the top-flight leagues will be vital for Villa in order to challenge the top half of the table.
Former England international Ellie Roebuck led Villa’s goal scorers last season, netting 13 in all competitions. Daly’s clinical finishing was showcased in Villa’s unbeaten run towards the end of the season against Arsenal, West Ham and Brighton. As well as being a prevent goal scorer in the preseason.
Following a loan spell last season, Jill Baijings has committed permanently, which many Villa fans will be happy to hear. Baijings will be central to Villa’s midfield, utilising her experience in top leagues and technical ability to help create a strengthened attacking presence for Villa.
Rachel Maltby was named Villa’s Young Player of the year last season and is fresh off signing her first professional deal, demonstrating Villa’s commitment to utilising their academy. The defender made her WSL debut in the win against Arsenal last season,demonstrating herself as a committed full-back with energy to get forward. With the focus and ability that Maltby displayed last season, the English defender could make a strong ongoing case for herself to gain regular minutes.
Preseason performances from Aston Villa
Villa’s strong finish to last season has carried through to the preseason, building momentum in their five games. Starting the summer with a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, however, positive aspects to Arroyo’s side saw the squad being able to be rotated.
The side then bounced back from defeat with a 5-1 win over Liverpool, goals coming from Kirsty Hanson, Rachel Daly, Georgia Mullett, Jill Baijings and Sarah Mayling. An impressive 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain saw Ebony Salmon net her first of the pre-season, demonstrating the ability to build consistency against top sides. In their final friendly against Union Berlin, Arroyo’s side recorded a 1-0 win with Rachel Daly netting the only of the game which also saw Villa create their chances early with a strong attacking press.
Embed from Getty Images
The Season Ahead
Aston Villa’s 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign kicks off with a tough opening few weeks. Their season will kick off on the 7th of September as they travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium. Before hosting reigning Champions Chelsea at Villa Park for their first home game on the 14th, and travelling to face Arsenal at the Emirates towards the end of the month. These fixtures will certainly put pressure on Natalia Arroyo’s side to find their consistency, but pre-season results against Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain may suggest that Villa are capable of rising to the challenge.
Alongside their league ambitions, Villa begin their Subway League Cup campaign in Group E, where they will face Tottenham Hotspur, Bristol City and local rivals Birmingham City.
With their potentially tough opening few weeks of the league facing title contenders, Villa may find an uneasy start, but their defensively strengthened squad could see them secure 6th place in the WSL, with a realistic chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Subway Cup, with their opening game against Tottenham decisive in who will top the group.
***Aston Villa 2025/26 Squad:***Ellie Roebuck, Sabrina D’Angelo, Soffia Kelly, Lynn Wilms, Océane Deslandes, Sarah Mayling, Paula Tomás, Anna Patten, Lucy Parker, Noelle Maritz, Rachel Maltby, Lydia Sallaway, Jill Baijings, Lucia Kendall, Lucy Staniforth, Missy Bo Kearns, Miri Taylor, Maya Hijikata, Rachel Daly, Ebony Salmon, Kirsty Hanson, Chasity Grant, Gabi Nunes, Ruby-Rae Tucker, Mia Sorrentino