Aston Villa Women have bolstered their squad with the acquisition of promising Japan international goalkeeper Akane Okuma. The 21-year-old's move to the Women's Super League (WSL) club is subject to receiving a visa, marking a significant step in her burgeoning career.
Okuma arrives in Birmingham from Japanese club INAC Kobe Leonessa, where she has been playing since 2024. Prior to that, she began her senior career at JEF United Chiba. Her international pedigree is already well-established, having represented Japan at youth levels and recently being part of the senior squad that triumphed in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Notably, she will be reunited with her national team colleague Maya Hijikata at Aston Villa.
Marisa Ewers, Aston Villa's director of women's football, expressed enthusiasm about the new signing. Ewers highlighted Okuma as an "exciting young talent with a lot of potential" and underlined the club's strategy to identify and recruit talent from diverse international markets. Okuma herself conveyed her excitement, stating she was "very happy to be here" and eager to join her new teammates on the pitch.
Aston Villa finished ninth in the 12-team WSL last season, a campaign that saw them navigate a competitive league. The upcoming 2026-27 season promises further challenges, as the WSL is set to expand to 14 teams, increasing the number of fixtures and the overall intensity of the competition. The full fixture list for the new season is anticipated to be released on 30 July.
Okuma's arrival signals Aston Villa's intent to strengthen their squad and potentially climb higher in the WSL standings. Her experience at both club and international level, despite her young age, is expected to provide a significant boost to the team's goalkeeping options as they prepare for the expanded league season.