Aston Villa have completed the signing of Scotland captain Rachel Corsie from NWSL side Kansas City Current.
The move sees the experienced centre back reunite with Carla Ward, having worked under the Villa boss at Birmingham during the first half of the 2020/21 season.
On her new arrival, Ward told Aston Villa’s official website: “Rachel is someone I admired greatly while working with her last season.
“When we heard of her availability during this transfer window, we simply couldn’t ignore her leadership and overall quality. She will guide our young talent and will also give us another dimension at the back. We’re delighted to add her to the squad.”
Corsie has spent the previous seven years in the NWSL with Seattle Reign, Utah Royals and Kansas City Current, while enjoying loan spells with Glasgow City, Canberra United and Birmingham during the off season.
The 32-year-old’s time with the latter saw her team up with Ward, and she was an influential figure as Birmingham scrapped their way to survival despite contending with a stretched squad and limited resources. The Blues picked up three wins over the course of the 2020/21 campaign on their way to beating the drop, each of them coming while Corsie was at the club.
A hugely established figure at international level, Corsie has represented Scotland 127 times and was named captain of the national side in 2017 following Gemma Fay’s retirement.
The addition demonstrates Ward’s continued ambition to add vast experience to her Villa squad following Tuesday’s loan signing of England stalwart Jill Scott.
Arsenal youngster Anna Patten has also joined Villa on loan during the January transfer window.