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LUCY STANIFORTH has signed a new deal with Aston Villa extending her stint with the WSL side until the summer of 2025.
The midfielder’s new contract follows the Villans swoop for England starlet Katie Robinson with the forward joining the club yesterday as a free agent.
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Staniforth, 31, has made 32 Villa appearances since sealing a move in January last year after leaving Manchester United.
The York-born WSL veteran, who began her senior club career at Sunderland in 2008, helped her side claim their highest-ever finish in the league in the 2022-23 campaign.
Back then the Villans claimed fifth spot under former boss Carla Ward with the club beating Arsenal 2-0 on the road on the last day of that season.
Their other victories that term include a 6-2 drubbing of rivals Brighton in February last year.
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And Staniforth was among the scorers that day.
However in January this year the player suffered a season-ending ankle injury ahead of the team’s Conti Cup clash with Sunderland.
This led to her undergoing surgery.
Lee Billiard, Villa’s head of women’s football said: “We all missed Lucy’s presence during the final months of last season.
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“We are looking forward to having her back fit and healthy for the upcoming campaign.
“She possesses such experience, technical ability and knowledge of the game that rubs off on those around her.”
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Arsenal have been linked with a move for Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino.
A number of European giants are eyeing up a move for Spain’s Euro 2024 star Dani Olmo.
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“Lucy is a good leader on the field and an experienced head in games.”
Staniforth’s contract extension comes in a busy period of transfers for Villa with Spain left-back Paula Tomás, 22, joining from Levante earlier this month.
The signing of the defender on a two-year deal follows the Midlands side’s loan move for Jill Bajings.
The Netherlands midfielder, 23, who has eight senior international caps, has joined from Bayern Munich.
Among the big names who have left Villa for pastures new this summer is Alisha Lehmann.
The Switzerland forward sealed a high profile move to the Italian giants, with her boyfriend Douglas Luiz joining their Serie A men’s side.
However Villa have acted swiftly to replace Lehmann, by signing Lioness forward Robinson from the Seagulls.
The former Albion player, 21, was part of the England squad that reached last summer’s Women’s World Cup final in Australia where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain.
Last term saw Villa rally to finish seventh in the WSL after a tough start to last term’s top-campaign with the team losing five games in a row between last October and November.
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The side are targeting a return to the top six under new manager Robert de Pauw.
The Netherlands-born head coach, 42, joined Villa at the end of June on a three-year contract.
Before this De Pauw guided Bayer Leverkusen to fifth in the women’s top-flight in Germany in 2023 and sixth at end of last season.
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