Rofiat Imuran may not have played much with the Super Falcons, but she is moving forward in her club career. Aston Villa has confirmed her signing for the 2026/27 season.
The 22-year-old defender comes to the English club after making a name for herself with London City Lionesses. She has earned a spot in a Villa team that is getting stronger under manager Natalia Arroyo.
Aston Villa announced her signing over the weekend, pending visa approval. Imuran is the club’s ninth signing during this summer transfer window.
Though her chances with Nigeria have been limited lately, Imuran is still part of the national team. She made her senior international debut in 2022 and was part of Nigeria’s squads for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
At the last WAFCON tournament in Morocco, Imuran mainly came off the bench and only played once in Nigeria’s 1-0 win against Zambia.
Her club journey has been more promising. Imuran started her senior career in France with Stade de Reims. There, she played 27 league matches and scored seven goals over two seasons.
In 2024, she moved to England to join London City Lionesses. Her performances there helped her earn a spot in the Women’s Super League with Aston Villa.
This new move gives Imuran a chance to compete at a higher level. It could also help her get more playing time with the Super Falcons.
“I’m very excited to be here, and I want to achieve a lot of things,” Imuran said after her transfer.
“It’s a big club with a lot of history, and it has big ambitions, and I want to be part of it.”
Marisa Ewers, the club’s director of Women’s Football, said that Imuran’s skills match the style Arroyo is trying to create.
“Rofiat is an exciting young defender who already has good experience in English football and at the international level. She brings pace, energy and quality to our defensive options. We believe her attributes are a really good fit for how Natalia wants the team to play.”
Ewers also pointed out the club’s goal to strengthen ties with African football.
“As a club, we have ambitions to build stronger connections across Africa and continue to identify and develop exciting talent from the continent. Rofiat’s arrival is another positive step in that direction.
“We’re delighted to welcome her to Aston Villa and look forward to seeing her continue to develop with us.”
Villa ended their announcement with a warm message: “Welcome to the Villa family, Rofiat!💜”
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇