Women’s Super League side Aston Villa have signed Manchester United midfielder Lucy Staniforth.
The 30-year-old has arguably been overlooked at United this season, considering she has been part of the International set-up since youth stages with 17 senior caps under her belt and narrowly missed out on the 23-player squad selection for the European Championship in the summer.
While she was named in the initial 28-player squad, she didn't make the cut alongside former England captain Steph Houghton and United teammate Katie Zelem.
On a club level, the pressure piled on for Staniforth who has lately struggled to get sufficient playing time this season, partnered with the potential of manager Marc Skinner bringing in Lisa Naalsund - an in-demand and versatile midfielder, that would only make the fight for minutes even harder.
Back in 2020 when Staniforth joined United from Birmingham City, she went on to feature regularly for the club with a goal tally of two and two assists in 30 WSL appearances. However, throughout this campaign the midfielder has made just four appearances, against Brighton, Leicester, Everton and Chelsea, with only two starts, zero goals and zero assists.
The move to Villa will give her much-needed playing time with a highly competitive club that currently sit mid-table, with 12 points from nine games but who has struggled with an extensive injury list.
It also strengthens Carla Ward’s side with high-quality international experience as the Lioness joins other England international stars Rachel Daly and Jordan Nobbs for added strength in the middle of the park.
It is understood the midfielder was left behind during United’s warm weather training camp in Malta, enabling her to complete the deal where she will join the club on similar terms with Nobbs, on an 18-month contract seeing her through until the summer of 2024.
Staniforth's first test in claret and blue will be the mid-table clash against Tottenham at home in the Bescot Stadium on Saturday January 14.
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