Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nigerian defender Rofiat Imuran ahead of the 2026/27 season. The 22-year-old becomes the club's ninth addition of the summer transfer window, joining from Women's Super League side London City Lionesses, subject to visa approval.
This news was first reported by Premium Times Sports. Imuran's arrival comes as the Villa men's side seeks its first points of the Premier League campaign, sitting 19th with zero points from two defeats and a goal difference of minus five. They are six points behind early leaders Manchester City.
Who is Rofiat Imuran?
Rofiat Imuran is a 22-year-old defender who began her senior career in France with Stade de Reims. Over two seasons there, she made 27 league appearances and scored seven goals, demonstrating an attacking threat from the back. She moved to England to play for London City Lionesses before this transfer to Villa. At international level, Imuran made her senior debut for Nigeria in 2022. She was part of the squads for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where she made a substitute appearance in a 1-0 win over Zambia.
What does she bring to Aston Villa?
Marisa Ewers, Aston Villa's director of Women's Football, highlighted the qualities Imuran adds to the squad. "Rofiat is an exciting young defender who already has good experience in English football and at the international level," Ewers said. "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." Manager Natalia Arroyo is leading the women's team, and this signing aligns with a stated aim to strengthen the club's connections with African football.
The player herself expressed clear ambition upon joining. "I’m very excited to be here, and I want to achieve a lot of things," Rofiat Imuran said. "It’s a big club with a lot of history, and it has big ambitions, and I want to be part of it."
How does this fit Villa's current context?
While the women's team builds for its season, the men's side faces immediate pressure. Their poor start sees them second from bottom in the standings. The next opportunity to change that comes quickly with an away trip to face Hull City, who are currently third, on September 5. Fans can track the team's progress on our fixtures page. This dual focus on strengthening both squads is a constant at the club, with the latest women's signing adding depth ahead of their own campaign. For a full view of the playing staff, visit the squad section.
The immediate next fixture for the men's team is that away match against high-flying Hull City on 5 September 2026.
