Aston Villa have agreed a transfer deal for highly-rated shot-stopper Daphne Van Domselaar from FC Twente, WSL News understands.The move is still subject to international travel clearance and approval from the FA.

Her new contract at Villa will keep her at the club until the summer of 2026 – she will join the Villans on a free transfer, following the expiration of her deal with the Dutch outfit.

Van Domselaar is currently one of the leading goalkeepers in women’s football. She is an excellent shot-stopper and she also provides a commanding presence in the penalty area – it is a statement of intent from the Midlands club, who could be a force to be reckoned with next season.

What did Aston Villa manager Carla Ward say about the transfer?

Villa head coach Carla Ward expressed her delight on the acquisition, saying: “Daphne is someone we’ve tracked for some time. We knew we had real competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs so we’re delighted she’s chosen to continue her development with us.

“She’s a player who comes with great pedigree and potential to be one of the world’s best. We’re delighted to have her and we very much look forward to working with her.”

Daphne van Domselaar career summary so far

Born in 2000 in The Netherlands, Daphne Van Domselaar played for LSVV and Telstar as a youngster before making the jump to FC Twente in 2017.

In her first pair of seasons for the club, she played backup to first-choice ‘keeper Nicky Evrard (who now plays for Chelsea in the WSL).

From 2019 onwards, Van Domselaar became Twente’s leading goalkeeper. She began to attract attention from clubs across Europe for her brilliant performances between the sticks – after six years with the Tukkers, Aston Villa have won the race to secure her coveted signature.

With Twente, Van Domselaar has won a slew of trophies and accolades. She has collected three Eredivisie trophies, three Eredivisie Cups, a KNVB Women’s Cup and a Dutch Women’s Super Cup in 2022.

She has also won a handful of caps for the Netherlands, with her first international appearance coming in 2022. Since then, she has played 13 times for Oranje.