Aston Villa recruit Scandinavians in summer rebuild after ninth-place WSL finish
After finishing ninth in the Women's Super League last season, Aston Villa have signed four Scandinavian players this summer as part of an eight-player senior recruitment drive, three from Norway and one from Denmark.
The arrivals mark a new direction for Villa, who previously had no senior players from Norway, Finland, Sweden or Denmark; the Women's Super League now has 42 senior players from those countries across 14 clubs and Villa possess the fourth largest Scandinavian contingent behind Tottenham (10), Manchester United (seven) and Liverpool (six). Manager Natalie Arroyo and the recruitment team moved to replace senior exits including Kirsty Hanson to Spurs, Ebony Salmon to West Ham and the retirement of Lucy Staniforth as they attempt to improve on last season's low WSL finish.
Three of the signings are Norway internationals — defender Mathilde Harviken and midfielders Kamilla Melgard and Justine Kielland — while Denmark striker Amalie Vangsgaard also arrives; Harviken and Vangsgaard both join from Juventus. The club has made eight senior additions overall, and Kamilla Melgard is expected to help fill gaps left by the departures of Lucy Staniforth and Kirsty Hanson.
Kieland hopes these pre-existing relationships can provide immediate results at Villa Park. "I knew Mathilde from the national team, we are good friends, so we spoke about joining the team," she told BBC Sport. "It's nice having a lot of fellow Norwegians, Scandinavians - we speak the same language. "But all three of us are quite independent, we are looking for what is the best fit for our career, so it is a good sign we have all decided this is an attractive club and a good place to be. "For many Scandinavian players, England is a good place to be as it is a competitive league, every week you are able to perform at a higher level. "I am comfortable in midfield with Mathilde behind me, but we have to integrate that into the whole team, to have all the players working together. "In Norway we have grown up with the fact England is a great footballing nation, and we see there is a competitive league. If players want to develop, England is a good place to be."
Harviken described how prior relationships are aiding the new players' settling-in process. "It's nice to have other Norwegians and Scandinavians I knew before," Harviken adds. "I spoke with Kristine and Amalie before I came here, we know each other well, that makes things easier to get settled. They are a nice group of people; after training we will have coffee or dinner. "It's positive to know each other's strengths, the balls they like to receive. "Scandinavians fit in this league because it is physical and competitive, and we often have a lot of strength." The club's Norwegian newcomers plan to live in the same part of Birmingham.
The move follows a wider WSL trend of clubs recruiting from Scandinavia. Former Manchester United boss Marc Skinner said: "They play many games at a young age so they learn to make mistakes," he said. "Their exposure is at a high level and that gives them a head start into that early pressure. Dealing with that and the resilience they learn allows them to come and play here." Spurs manager Martin Ho brought in four players from Norway and Sweden in January as his side finished fifth in the WSL, and Everton under former manager Brian Sorensen had eight Scandinavian players on their books during the 2023-24 season.
Of Villa's 27-player senior squad, 18 have joined the club since 2025, and Arroyo is overseeing a substantial overhaul. Longer-serving players such as defender Anna Patten, midfielder Missy Bo Kearns and striker Rachel Daly are expected to provide experience; "We have a lot of new players from different leagues, so I can integrate and drive them, show them what the standards are to be a top WSL team," Kearns told BBC Sport. "I have played a lot of football in the WSL and English football, it helps a lot. And as the league develops, we grow with the league and develop." Villa have played all their home league games at Villa Park since 2024 and are entering their seventh year in the top flight.
Goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, one of the eight summer signings from Everton, highlighted the changing competitive landscape in the league. "The top teams of course invest and sign players for a lot of money, but you also have mid-table teams pushing for those top spots," goalkeeper Emily Ramsey - one of the eight summer signings, from Everton - tells BBC Sport. "London City have invested a lot of money, they will expect to challenge. Spurs and Brighton showed they could do it at times last season. There is no longer so many expected outcomes, the top teams feel that which is why they are investing. "For Aston Villa, there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to trying to push up for those European spots." The article also notes the men's side are competing in the Champions League this season.
It now needs results. Amalie Vangsgaard has helped Denmark qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
