Aston Villa have signed Japan goalkeeper Akane Okuma, subject to visa approval. The 21-year-old joins the Women's Super League side from Japanese club INAC Kobe Leonessa, where she had played since 2024. She represented Japan at youth level and was part of the senior squad that won the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup alongside new Villa team-mate Maya Hijikata. Villa director of women's football Marisa Ewers said: "Akane is an exciting young talent with a lot of potential and we're delighted to welcome her to Aston Villa. The league's 2026-27 fixtures are scheduled to be released on 30 July, with the competition expanding to feature 14 teams.