Portuguese flavour as Diana Silva joins Aston Villa Women
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Aston Villa Women have looked to replace the goals scored by Melissa Johnson in the Women’s Championship for their upcoming Women’s Super League season by signing Portugal International Diana Silva.
She becomes the first non-domestic signing of the season, moving from Sporting Clube Portugal Femenino, a side who have hit the headlines in recent years for their high-scoring games, with results ranging from 5-0, 8-0 and even 17-0 in recent seasons.
The 25-year-old has been in Women’s Football for eleven years, playing for AtlĆ©tico Ouriense’s boys team before being promoted straight into their Women’s side. She scored 89 goals in 124 appearances.
From there, Silva has also spent time at Clube de Albergaria, where she scored 19 in 24, and most recently has spent four years at Sporting CP, scoring 19 in 38 appearances and winning the Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Femenino in her first year with the club.
Sporting director Eniola Aluko has said she is ‘delighted’ to sign Diana Silva for Aston Villa Women, labelling her as an “exciting, pacy, skillful goalscoring forward – and a leader for her national team”.
Diana Silva has represented her national side at Under 19 level and senior level, amassing over 60 appearances at both levels and scoring over 18 goals.
With a reputation for scoring goals, she will pose regular competition for remaining forward Shania Hayles, whilst bringing the experience of International and UEFA Women’s Champions League football to a side who are relatively inexperienced in the top level of Women’s Football.
Silva, speaking to club media stated that she is ‘relishing’ the chance to play against some of the best players in the world.
“I wanted to take a new step in my career and do something different.
I want to improve as a player and person, and Villa seemed like a very good opportunity.
I have never been outside of Portugal, so it’s a big step for me.
I’ve achieved a couple of trophies with Sporting – and I hope to conquer more.”
She has also admitted that the side will look competitive heading into the new season, and thinks that the new signings that the club have made are ‘encouraging’.
On the subject of her new signing, Head Coach Gemma Davies expressed that the club had been monitoring Silva since before lockdown:
“We’re really excited she’s finally an Aston Villa player.
We’ve picked up a young talent who’s been doing very well with her club and national team – and scoring goals.”
And goals are exactly what Aston Villa Women will need after the departure of Melissa Johnson just a few weeks ago.
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By: Regan Foy
Title: Portuguese flavour as Diana Silva joins Aston Villa Women
Sourced From: underagaslitlamp.com/2020/07/15/portuguese-flavour-as-diana-silva-joins-aston-villa-women/
Published Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 12:51:49 +0000
