New-look Villa turn to Scandinavia as they rebuild squad
Aston Villa, following a disappointing ninth place finish in the Women's Super League last season, have replaced several departed senior players by transplanting a new Scandinavian heart into their team.
After a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Women's Super League last season, Aston Villa have bolstered their squad with Scandinavian talent. Four new players from Scandinavia, three from Norway and one from Denmark, have joined the club this summer, bringing the total number of Scandinavian players in the WSL to 42 across 14 clubs.
Villa now has the fourth-largest contingent of Scandinavian players, behind Tottenham (10), Manchester United (seven), and Liverpool (six). Manager Natalie Arroyo and the recruitment team turned to Scandinavia to fill senior squad gaps left by departures and retirements of players such as Kirsty Hanson, Ebony Salmon, and Lucy Staniforth.
Three of the new signings are Norway internationals - defender Mathilde Harviken, midfielders Kamilla Melgard and Justine Kielland. Denmark striker Amalie Vangsgaard also joined from Juventus. The players hope their pre-existing relationships will lead to immediate results at Villa Park, as they are comfortable in the competitive English league and see it as a good place to develop their careers.
With 18 new signings joining the club since 2025, Villa aims to push towards the top four in the league and position themselves as one of the top teams in women's football.
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