Aston Villa Women and Akane Okuma
Tuesday
Aston Villa have signed Japan goalkeeper Akane Okuma from INAC Kobe Leonessa, subject to visa approval. The 21-year-old represented Japan at youth level and was part of the senior squad that won the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Villa described Okuma as an exciting young talent and another example of the club scouting wider international markets. She joins a side that finished ninth last season before the WSL expands to 14 teams next campaign.