Aston Villa Women have signed Nigeria international Rofiat Imuran from London City Lionesses, subject to visa approval. The 22-year-old defender becomes Natalia Arroyo’s ninth addition of the summer transfer window.
Imuran arrives with experience in France, the Women’s Super League and international football. The left-footed full-back made 10 WSL appearances for London City during the 2025/26 season, starting nine and playing 706 minutes. Aston Villa have not disclosed the length of her contract.
Transfer snapshot
- Player: Rofiat Imuran
- Age: 22
- Position: Left-back/left-sided defender
- From: London City Lionesses
- To: Aston Villa Women
- Transfer: Permanent, subject to visa approval
- Contract: Length not officially disclosed
- 2025/26 WSL record: 10 appearances, nine starts and 706 minutes
- International team: Nigeria
- Summer context: Aston Villa’s ninth signing
Imuran brings pace and attacking potential at left-back
Imuran is primarily a left-back but has experience operating further forward on the same side. That versatility gives Arroyo another way to structure Villa’s left flank, whether the team requires a conventional full-back, an overlapping outlet or a player starting higher up the pitch.
Her attacking contribution was particularly visible during her time with Stade de Reims. Villa credit Rofiat Imuran with seven goals in 27 league appearances across two seasons in France, an unusually productive return for a defender.
She moved to London City Lionesses in October 2024, signing after leaving Reims. Imuran made 14 appearances and supplied one assist as London City secured promotion from WSL2, before gaining her first top-flight experience last season.
Her WSL involvement included nine starts from 10 appearances. Although she was not an automatic selection throughout the campaign, that experience means Villa are signing a player already familiar with the speed and physical demands of the division.
Director of women’s football Marisa Ewers described Imuran as an energetic defender whose qualities suit Arroyo’s plans.
“She brings pace, energy and quality to our defensive options, and we believe her attributes are a really good fit for how Natalia wants the team to play,” Ewers said.
Villa continue an extensive summer rebuild
Imuran is Aston Villa’s ninth signing ahead of the 2026/27 season, underlining the scale of the squad changes taking place under Arroyo.
Rather than arriving as a development player without senior experience, she has already played in three different competitive environments. Her career has taken her from Nigeria to France and then England, while her two seasons at London City included both a promotion campaign and a year in the WSL.
Villa’s immediate priority will be integrating Imuran into the defensive structure and determining how quickly she can compete for regular minutes. Her ability to cover more than one role on the left should be useful across a full league and cup schedule.
The transfer remains subject to visa approval. Imuran will only become available for selection once that process and the necessary registration have been completed.
International experience with Nigeria
Rofiat Imuran made her senior Nigeria debut in 2022 and was selected for the country’s squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She also represented the Super Falcons at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to eventual champions Cameroon.
That international experience strengthens Imuran’s profile despite her age. She has already been exposed to major-tournament football and competition for places within one of Africa’s most successful national teams.
Her arrival also has a broader significance for Villa’s recruitment strategy. Ewers said the club want to build stronger connections across Africa and improve their identification and development of players from the continent.
Imuran is therefore both an addition to Arroyo’s current defensive options and an early example of a longer-term recruitment priority outlined publicly by the club.
“I’m very excited to be here and I want to achieve a lot of things,” Imuran said after completing the move. “It’s a big club with a lot of history, and it has big ambitions, and I want to be part of it.”
Source: Aston Villa
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