Kirsty Hanson is on the verge of a high-profile transfer within the Women’s Super League, with Tottenham Hotspur set to sign the prolific forward from Aston Villa. BBC Sport understands that Spurs have had a bid accepted and personal terms are being finalised, signaling one of the most notable domestic moves of the summer.
The 28-year-old Scotland international is coming off a career-best campaign, where she netted 12 goals in 22 WSL appearances. Only Khadija Shaw and Alessia Russo found the net more often, underlining her status as one of the league’s elite finishers. That goal haul earned her Aston Villa’s player of the year award and the WSL goal-of-the-season prize for a stunning strike against West Ham.
Hanson’s departure represents a significant blow for Villa, who relied heavily on her attacking output. With her 12 goals accounting for a large share of the team’s total, replacing that production will be a priority for manager Carla Ward—if she remains at the club—as they look to rebuild without their talisman.
Tottenham’s pursuit of Hanson is driven in part by manager Martin Ho’s familiarity with the player. The pair worked together during Ho’s spell as assistant coach at Manchester United, where Hanson began her WSL journey. That existing relationship likely smoothed negotiations and assures the forward of a tactical fit in Ho’s system.
Spurs are building an ambitious project under Ho, who led the team to a fifth-place finish in the 2025-26 season—his first in charge after arriving from SK Brann. The club has already secured the signings of West Ham forward Shekiera Martinez and Dutch defender Caitlin Dijkstra, and Hanson’s arrival adds further firepower to an attack that will aim to challenge the WSL’s established top four.
Hanson’s ability to play across the front line, combined with her pace and clinical finishing, offers Ho tactical versatility. Her movement and intelligence in the final third should complement existing attackers and potentially unlock deeper defensive blocks that frustrated Spurs last season. With 44 caps for Scotland, she also brings valuable international experience.
Details of the transfer fee remain undisclosed, though Hanson had a year left on her Villa contract. The lack of a public figure reflects the opaque nature of women’s football transfers, but the willingness of both clubs to do business underscores the mounting investment and professionalism in the WSL.
Hanson’s move is emblematic of a shifting landscape where top domestic talent increasingly circulates among rival WSL clubs, raising the competitive level. As Tottenham strengthen, the pressure mounts on other mid-table sides to retain their stars and invest accordingly.
Once personal terms are concluded, Hanson will join her new teammates and begin integrating into Ho’s setup. The transfer could be finalized within days, and Tottenham supporters will eagerly anticipate seeing her in action.
This acquisition signals Tottenham’s intent to break into the upper echelons of the women’s game. For Hanson, it’s a fresh chapter at a club on the rise, with the opportunity to further enhance her reputation as a top-flight goal scorer.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
