The BWSL’s second-most prolific striker in 2025-26, Kirsty Hanson is the latest forward to join Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have been among the busiest clubs of the summer so far, and the North Londoners have strengthened further – and shown a real attacking intent – with the addition of striker Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa.
Hanson will join the club when the transfer window opens in June alongside Shekiera Martinez from West Ham United in what could be a new-look attack at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hanson scored 12 goals for Villa last season and was the second-highest goalscorer in the BWSL ahead of such forwards as Sam Kerr, Vivianne Miedema and Alessia Russo. She was also the winner of the BWSL Goal of the Season award thanks to a stunning top-corner finish against West Ham in October.
It was the first season since 2017-18 that the 28 year old breached double figures, after she scored 11 times for Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Only three players had more shots than her, and only Khadija Shaw scored from more big chances, or had more shots on goal.
Hanson attributes her form in front of goal to playing in more centrally rather than her usual left-sided position, as well as taking chances earlier.
"I'm in more of a central role,” she explained before the end of the season. “I used to play that when I was younger and I scored a lot when I was in there as well. Then most of my career, I've been a winger, so I've been more assisting than scoring.”
A glance at Hanson’s heat map proves the point, with Hanson spending more time in and around the box than on the left channel, the area of the pitch in which she spent most of her time in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
"As soon as I get in goalscoring opportunities, I try to hit them. I've managed to do that this season and it's been a really nice feeling. I feel like a little girl again from playing there when I was younger because I've not had this many goals in my career since then. It's been exciting.”
The scary thing for BWSL defenders is that Hanson feels there’s room for improvement, too.
“I want to improve things like my hold-up play, reading the game… it's about adapting my game even further to make sure it's harder for defenders to know how to stop me.”
A NEW PARTNERSHIP
As well as working on improving areas of her game, Hanson will also have the summer to build a relationship alongside Martinez.
Martinez scored 16 goals in 31 games after joining the Hammers in January 2025, and the German international is hungry to continue finding the net at her new club.
“I like the intensity of the BWSL,” Martinez told the official Spurs website. “It's really intense, every team can always beat every team but I love having intensive games.
“I like to be a striker, the number nine - I just like scoring goals. I always played as a striker, sometimes a winger, but only a few games. I really love playing offensively.”
BUILDING FROM THE BACK
As well as a new-look attack, Spurs boss Martin Ho also has a new name in his back line following the arrival of 27-year-old defender and Netherlands international Caitlin Dijkstra from Wolfsburg.
“Caitlin is a player with real pedigree, maturity and top-level experience,” Ho told tottenhamhotspur.com.
“She has developed and competed in winning environments, played in major European competitions, and continues to be an important player for the Netherlands at international level, so she arrives with a clear understanding of what high performance football demands.
“What we really like about Caitlin is not only her defensive quality, but her composure, intelligence and ability to help a team build from the back. She is calm under pressure, reads the game well, defends with discipline and gives us another strong profile within our defensive unit.”
All change at Spurs then as they attempt to build on their fifth-place finish in 2025-26.
Word credit: Nick Judd
