Lionesses goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck signs for Aston Villa on free transfer after seeing Barcelona contract terminated one year early

England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has returned to the Women's Super League after just one year as she signed for Aston Villa on Tuesday. Roebuck left Manchester City to join Barcelona on a two-year deal last summer but she is now back in her homeland after mutually terminating her contract with the Catalan giants. Roebuck has signed a two-year deal with the Villans.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Manchester City youth player, who made her professional debut for the Cityzens in 2016, spent eight seasons at the club. In April 2024, Roebuck signed a pre-contract with Liga F giants Barcelona and formally completed the move at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. However, the Lionesses custodian was limited to only two appearances at the Catalan club as she was still recovering from a stroke that she suffered in 2023.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The England star has now mutually terminated her Barcelona deal one year early and joined WSL side Aston Villa on a two-year contract. Roebuck's last appearance in club football came for Barca against Levante in a league clash on February 1.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Following the goalkeeper's transfer, Aston Villa's director of women’s football, Marisa Ewers, said: "We are delighted that Ellie will be joining our club. She is an exciting addition to the team and is a player with a lot of experience who can help drive our performance levels."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ASTON VILLA?

  The Villans, who finished sixth in the 2024-25 WSL campaign, will find out their full full fixture schedule for the upcoming season on July 25.