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Tottenham Hotspur have signed the Scotland forward Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee, after a strong 2025-26 season saw her finish as the Women’s Super League’s third-highest goalscorer.

>The Guardian understands the north London club triggered a release clause in the 28-year-old’s contract and fought off competition for her signature. The chance for Hanson to work again with the Tottenham head coach Martin Ho - who coached her while he was on the backroom staff at her former club Manchester United - is understood to have been a key factor in her signing a long-term deal.

>“I’m absolutely delighted, it’s an exciting time to be a part of this club,” Hanson told Spurs’ media channels. “I’m ready for a new challenge, and I’m always wanting to be better every single day. Martin (Ho), the club, the staff, the players, are at such an exciting point - and I want to be a part of that.”

>Ho, whose side finished fifth in the WSL last term, added: “We want players in the front line who can rotate, threaten different spaces, press with intensity and give us different solutions during games. Kirsty can stretch teams in behind, attack one v one, arrive in goal-scoring areas and also help connect the game when playing more centrally. That flexibility gives us more ways to hurt teams.”