Aston Villa have secured the signing of Japanese goalkeeper Akane Okuma, pending the necessary visa documentation.
The 21-year-old moves to the Women’s Super League team from INAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan, where she had been playing since 2024.
Okuma launched her professional journey at JEF United Chiba.
Having played for Japan’s youth sides, she was a member of the senior national squad that lifted the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup trophy, a victory she shared with her new Villa colleague Maya Hijikata.
Marisa Ewers, Villa’s director of women’s football, commented: “Akane is a promising young player with considerable upside, and we are thrilled to have her join Aston Villa.
“Our approach as a club involves consistently scouting for talent across diverse global markets, and we are very pleased to add a player of Akane’s caliber to our squad.”
Okuma expressed her excitement for this new chapter.
“I am truly delighted to be here,” she stated. “It is a great privilege to belong to this club, and I am eager to take the field alongside the rest of the group.”
Villa ended the previous WSL campaign in ninth place among the 12 clubs. The schedule for the 2026-27 season is set to be announced on 30 July, as the competition grows to include 14 sides.
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