Derby County Women have strengthened their squad ahead of the 2023/24 season with a quintet of new signings.
After retaining most of the squad from last term, manager Sam Griffiths has moved to bring in several fresh faces to bolster the ranks in the lead-up to the new campaign getting underway.
A number of trial events have been staged in recent weeks to offer potential new recruits the opportunity to shine and, combined with a number of pre-season friendlies, they have proved to be a worthwhile exercise to identity new talent.
The five new recruits are:
Anna Draper – Goalkeeper
Draper has linked up with Derby on a dual registration with Aston Villa and will provide further competition for a place between the posts alongside Imogen Maguire and Sarah Morgan.
Maria Timms – Defender
Timms will provide another defensive option to call upon and her move to Derby comes after spells with Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.
Charlotte Steggles – Midfielder
Steggles has made the move to Derby after previously being on the books of East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest. She also had spells at Notts County and Leicester City prior to joining Forest.
Eleanor Ashton – Striker
Striker Ashton, who has also represented England at youth international level, has linked up with the Ewes on a dual registration from Manchester United where they enjoyed success on the pitch.
Yasmin Mosby – Striker
Mosby will offer another attacking outlet for Derby and is one of two players to have joined Derby from Forest this summer. She also has also represented Doncaster Belles and Concord University.
Commenting on the signings, Griffiths said: “Our preparations for the new season have been good and we’ve had the trial events and quite a few players coming in.
“We had such a good season last year in achieving what we did and it is important we take the togetherness that we had into the new season.
“Keeping hold of the majority of the squad was important and we’re also looking forward to working with the new players. They’re all good personalities, as well as good players, and I am sure they will fit right in.
“We want players that want to come in, work hard, be coachable and play for the badge. We believe we had that in the group last year and the players we have brought in fit into that mould too.”
