Aston Villa Women should try cling onto Evie Rabjohn after Manchester United transfer news emerges
Aston Villa Women could have a fight on their hands to keep hold of Evie Rabjohn beyond the end of this season after Manchester United entered the fray for her services on Thursday (6 April).
Rabjohn, 17, recently made her first WSL start for Aston Villa’s in the recent 5-0 victory against Leicester City (26 March) as well as featuring for the England Under-19s in October.
The academy product has been one of several players to rise through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath over the past two years, alongside first-team regulars Laura Blindkilde Brown and Freya Gregory.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday (6 April), Daily Mail journalist Kathryn Batter reported that Women’s Super League giants Manchester United had made an official approach to sign the highly-rated defender.
“Understand Manchester United have made an official approach to sign Evie Rabjohn from Aston Villa,” she wrote.
“The England U19 defender does not turn 18 until April 28 so there would be no compensation.
“Rabjohn is highly rated and has not made a decision yet.”
Although the Red Devils’ interest in the English defender is a worrying sign in the immediate future, it is promising that the club’s academy is creating players of this quality who look ready for the step up to Women’s Super League football.
When the club was languishing in the second division on women’s football, players of Rabjohn’s ilk were few and far between, but the likes of Rabjohn and Blinkide Brown show the future of Villa is in good hands.
Although the 17-year-old is yet to make a decision regarding her future in the West Midlands, the likes of Carla Ward should do all they can to maintain her services.
According to FA rules, Manchester United will now have to wait seven days before being able to discuss personal terms with Rabjohn, so Villa must act quickly in their attempts to keep her at the club.
Considering the club wouldn’t make a single penny from Rabjohn’s sale, it makes it all the more important that they persuade her that the project under Ward is worthy of her time.
Villa are making huge strides in the WSL and on the brink of breaking into the established top-four, and keeping players such as Rabjohn can help the club make this dream become a reality.
In other Aston Villa news, Dan Bardell believes a loanee could consider a Villa Park exit this summer if he isn’t given first-team assurances next season.