Aston Villa have completed the signing of Japanese international goalkeeper Akane Okuma.
WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Villans this morning.
The 21-year-old keeper joins Aston Villa following a spell with Japanese SOMPO WE League club INAC Kobe Leonessa. During her time with the Japanese side, Okuma continuously challenged at the top level. She was a SOMPO WE League runner-up with INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2024/2025 while the club also narrowly missed out on the WE League Cup and Empress’s Cup in the same season. The club finally claimed the league title last term.
On the international stage, Okuma recently broke into Japan’s senior squad. She has four senior caps to her name to date. She won the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup with Nadeshiko. The keeper was a regular in the nation’s youth sides in her early years.
After sealing her move to Aston Villa, Okuma said: “I’m very happy to be here. I feel really fortunate to be a part of this club, and I can’t wait to play with the team.”
Okuma is Aston Villa’s seventh signing of what is proving to be a very busy transfer window for the club.
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