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The England stopper returned to the WSL after a season with Barcelona in the summer
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After spending a year in Barcelona, England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck returned to the WSL in the summer with a renewed perspective and ambition. The 26-year-old signed a two-year deal with Aston Villa in July after her contract with the Catalan giants was terminated and she arrived in Birmingham knowing exactly she wants from the next phase of her career. Roebuck’s move to Barcelona in 2024 came as she was continuing her recovery from a stroke from which she feared losing her vision and end her career.
“It’s such a competitive league and full of talented players, so I’m excited to be competing in that, ” Roebuck told Four Four Two on her return to England. “Being a little closer to home is always nice too. “The club’s really ambitious and the project is super exciting. There’s a good mix of senior, experienced players and young players. It was the perfect fit for what I want to achieve and to be part of something that’s on an upward trajectory. ”
Roebuck, who received her first call-up to the England squad since she suffered her stroke in November, was thrilled to get back in the WSL, citing the Lionesses success in last summer’s European Championship where they defended their crown as another reason why the league is so exciting this season. “Every fixture is difficult and, off the back of the Euros, the crowds are elevated again, ” she adds. “Being out of it for so long and watching it from the side, you can see that shift and the improvements. ” The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. Roebuck signed for Villa this summer following the January arrival of new manager Natalia Arroyo, who had spent five seasons in charge of Espanyol. “She came in at a difficult period last year and did really well, but it’s good for her to start with a fresh group and be able to take the time to put in place her ideas, ” Roebuck adds. “From my first meetings with her, the project was appealing and made me want to sign. “She’s a lovely person and I think our playing styles align well with what she wants to achieve. ”
After having spent a year in Spain herself, will Roebuck be communicating with her new boss in Spanish? "I did say that I need to keep practising with her! ” she admits. “I’m not so confident speaking, but I definitely understand a lot more than when I went. “It’s something that I definitely want to develop because I’d love to live in Spain in the future. It’s an amazing place with great people. ” For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and Leeds Live among others and worked at Four Four Two throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
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