Eniola Aluko joins Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and Eva Longoria at Angel City, as club's first sporting director

Angel City, the world’s only majority female-owned women's club, have appointed former England striker Eniola Aluko as their first sporting director.

The new NWSL club, which boasts Hollywood stars Eva Longoria and Natalie Portman among its owners, as well as tennis icons Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, will debut in the United States’ top women’s football league from spring 2022. Aluko, who left her sporting director role at Aston Villa to join the Los Angeles-based team, said it was an “unmissable” opportunity to be part of a majority female-owned, female-run organisation.

“It’s female led. Forget football, that is powerful. That is really showing the future that we all want in terms of gender equality and diversity for leadership, a predominantly female-owned organisation,” said the former Chelsea, Juventus and Birmingham City striker, who will be responsible for roster management.

At Villa the 34-year-old held the same role, albeit in very different circumstances, overseeing the club’s transition to full-time professional status last summer following their promotion from the Women’s Championship. Aluko’s recruits, such as Japan World Cup winner Mana Iwabuchi, helped Villa survive a Women’s Super League relegation battle, but acknowledges her new role is a different ball game.

“It’s a standalone women’s team. In England we’re used to seeing a lot of women’s teams being an extension of its men’s team - that’s different at Angel City. The club is breaking new ground, and has the power to inspire people across the world.”

Aluko, who says she wants to build a “diverse and inclusive team”, is joining a club on a mission for social change. For every seat deposit received ahead of season tickets being launched for the new season, Angel City pledge to donate a Nike sports bra to a young girl in need. “Without even a ball being kicked, without players and coaches, the brand is really engaging in the community. Angel City is re-writing the script in terms of how sports brands are viewed,” she said.

Aluko, who becomes the NWSL’s only black sporting director, is not new to US football having spent three seasons playing in the previous incarnation of the NWSL - Women’s Professional Soccer. There she played alongside US Women’s National Team legend Shannon Boxx, for Saint Louis Athletica, as well as Atlanta Beat and Sky Blue FC.

The self-described “movie geek”, whose bosses will now include some of Hollywood’s most recognisable faces, described her new role as “roster management, developing the club’s recruitment strategy, overseeing player and technical staff development and acting as an NWSL liaison”.

With more than 100 caps for England and a career as a practising lawyer to boot, Aluko has repeatedly broken boundaries in English football – becoming the first female pundit on Match of the Day, and taking on the Football Association in a high-profile racism case.

Co-founder and president Julie Uhrman, who said the club were “fans” of Aluko, highlighted the synergy between both parties. “Eni personifies the values of our club, and shares our passion to challenge the status quo, push boundaries and try new things. We have been a fan of Eni’s for many years now. This is a huge milestone in our journey, and we could not be more excited to welcome her to the team.” Angel City will play home matches at the Banc of California Stadium, sharing the ground with MLS side Los Angeles Football Club.

Meanwhile, Villa have named former Birmingham City Women manager Carla Ward as their new first-team manager.

Ward, 37, stepped down from her role at their West Midlands rivals last week and will replace interim manager Marcus Bignot, who left Villa at the end of the season, when head coach Gemma Davies and her assistant Jenny Sugarman also parted company with the club.

A statement from Villa confirmed the former Sheffield United manager would "take up the position next month".

Bignot had been in charge since January, while Davies and Sugarman - who led Villa to promotion from the Women's Championship 12 months ago - remained in their roles. They oversaw Villa's survival from relegation on the final day of the campaign.

Like Ward, Bignot was also a former manager of Birmingham's women's side. Ward spent one season with the Blues, whose search for a replacement of their own continues.