Aston Villa have completed the signing of 21-year-old Japanese goalkeeper Akane Okuma, pending the finalization of her visa. Okuma arrives at the Women’s Super League club following a stint with INAC Kobe Leonessa, her team since 2024, having previously launched her senior career with JEF United Chiba.
A former youth international, Okuma was a member of the Japanese squad that secured the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, playing alongside her new teammate at Villa, Maya Hijikata. She also participated in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
Marisa Ewers, the director of women’s football at Villa, expressed enthusiasm regarding the addition of such a promising talent to the squad, noting the club’s ongoing effort to recruit high-quality players from global markets. Okuma stated that she feels honored to join the club and is eager to integrate with her new teammates.
Last season, Aston Villa finished in ninth place in the 12-team WSL. The league is set to grow to 14 teams for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign, with the full schedule due to be announced on July 30.