Aston Villa sign Parker from West Ham

Aston Villa Women have confirmed the acquisition of defender Lucy Parker. The 24-year-old has committed to a two-year deal with the option for an additional year.

Parker, born in Cambridge, is coming off a two-season stint with West Ham United where she penned her first professional contract.

Prior to her time with the Hammers, she gained significant playing experience in the United States.

Parker played collegiate soccer at Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), balancing her sports career with her studies.

Manager Carla Ward expressed her excitement about the signing, acknowledging that the club had been eyeing Parker for a while.

"Lucy is someone we’ve tracked for some time and we know we had a lot of competition to sign her," said Ward.

The manager went on to praise Parker's playing style, stating, "She’s a front-footed, ball-playing centre-half and is someone who will add a lot of quality to our defensive unit."