Nigeria international Rofiat Imuran has moved to Aston Villa Women from London City Lionesses, giving the Super Falcons defender a new opportunity in England as the club prepares for the 2026/27 Women’s Super League campaign.
The 22-year-old left-back completed a permanent transfer announced by Aston Villa on Sunday, August 30. The move remains subject to visa approval, according to the available club and media reports.
Imuran becomes Villa’s ninth signing of the summer transfer window under head coach Natalia Arroyo. Her arrival adds another left-sided defensive option to a squad being strengthened before the new WSL season.
The Nigerian spent the previous two seasons with London City after joining the club in 2024. She helped the side win the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 title during the 2024/25 campaign before making 10 appearances in the top flight in the following season.
London City confirmed her departure in a brief announcement, describing the transfer as a permanent move to Aston Villa. Her exit brings an end to her two-year spell with the club, during which she established herself as a left-back and contributed to its rise into England’s top division.
Imuran had previously spent two seasons with Stade de Reims in France. During that period, she made 27 league appearances and scored seven goals before moving to English football. Her club profile describes her as a left-footed defender with pace, attacking instincts and the ability to operate on the left side.
Her career has also developed steadily at international level. Imuran represented Nigeria at the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup with the Falconets before making her senior Super Falcons debut later that year.
She subsequently featured in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and was also included for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. That international experience adds to the competitive background she takes into her latest club move.
Villa’s Director of Women’s Football, Marisa Ewers, said the club sees Imuran as a young defender with experience in both English football and the international game. She also linked the signing to Villa’s wider interest in identifying and developing talent from Africa.
For Imuran, the transfer represents another step in a career that has taken her from Nigerian women’s football to France, then into England’s professional game and now to Aston Villa. Her immediate task will be to establish herself in Arroyo’s squad as Villa prepares for another WSL season.
