Aston Villa Women can confirm that eight players will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June.
Jade Richards, Kerri Welsh, Alice Hassall, Phoebe Warner, Mel Johnson, Charlotte Greengrass, Sophie Maierhofer and Daniela Kosinska will be departing.
Head Coach Gemma Davies has begun preparations for the FA Women’s Super League after the club were awarded promotion last week, and decisions on the futures of the aforementioned players have been some of the hardest she has had to make in her career.
Davies said: “This season’s achievements wouldn’t have been possible without every single member of the squad pulling in the same direction and striving to be the best team in the FA Women’s Championship.
“We are saying goodbye to great players, but also great people, who have contributed hugely to the success the club has enjoyed on and off the pitch.
“Jade, Kerri, Alice and Phoebe have been at the club for several seasons and their dedication to Aston Villa cannot be overstated, while Mel, Charlotte, Sophie and Daniela have all made their own significant contributions during their time here.
“We wish them all the best in the future and thank them for their service in claret and blue.”
Richards is the longest-serving player to depart, with the defender having joined Villa’s under-10s before progressing into the first team as a 17-year-old.
She also helped to nurture the next generation of Villans as Regional Talent Club Centre Manager, combining the role alongside being the Lead Coach for the Girls Football Academy programme.
Davies made Welsh club captain upon her appointment as Head Coach in 2018, and the forward repaid her faith with leadership in the dressing room and performances on the pitch.
Johnson will be departing after one successful season at the club, finishing as top scorer with 13 goals while adding four assists.
The striker scored three hat-tricks and her treble on the opening day of the season helped Villa recover from 2-0 down to beat Sheffield United and set the tone for a successful campaign.
Aston Villa Football Club would like to place on record our appreciation for all eight players as we wish them all the best in their future careers.
