Everton Women to sign quartet of international stars

Everton to sign quartet of international stars in major statement of intent

Italy midfielder Aurora Galli, Germany defender Leonie Maier, France winger Kenza Dali and Sweden striker Anna Anvegard set to join

Women’s Super League club Everton are closing in on the signings of a quartet of international stars, Telegraph Sport can reveal, with Juventus’ Aurora Galli, Germany defender Leonie Maier, France winger Kenza Dali and Sweden striker Anna Anvegard all poised to move to the Merseyside outfit.

Technically-gifted Italy midfielder Galli’s move will make history, as she will become the first Italian player to play in the WSL. The 24 year-old, who began her career at Inter Milan, has helped Juventus lift four consecutive Serie A titles and was a prominent part of the Italy side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

Her long-range strike for her country against Jamaica in the group stage was shortlisted for goal of the tournament in a game in which she scored twice as the Azzurri won 5-0. Galli added another goal in the last-16, finding the bottom corner from outside the box in Italy’s 2-0 victory over China, and her runs from deep and eye for goal from midfield will no doubt entertain Everton supporters.

Full-back Maier, 28, will move at the end of her contract with Arsenal, which expires on June 30 after two years in north London. Arsenal announced on June 3 that she would be leaving the club and her acquisition by Everton will be seen as a significant coup, with the former Bayern Munich star - and two-time Bundesliga champion - well-regarded across the continent.

She also has strong pedigree with her country's national side, helping Germany win the Women’s Euro 2013 title and starting in the final in Sweden, as well as starting the Olympic final at Rio 2016, when her side won the gold medal.

Outgoing West Ham midfielder Dali, 29, was among eight players whom the East Londoners said would be leaving the club at the end of the season, and interest in the former Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain regular is understood to have been high. Arsenal were said to be keen on her signature, but she has chosen Everton.

Dali is also in good form, scoring the only goal of the game as France beat Germany in a friendly on June 10 - a dipping effort from range which stole the headlines. For West Ham, she scored three times and provided three assists in 18 WSL appearances last term.

Anvegard, 24, arrives from Rosengard after helping the Swedish club reach last season's European quarter-finals. She is a five-time winner of the Golden Boot award in her home country and was part of the Sweden squad that finished third at the last World Cup.

Adding four players with such extensive international experience will be a major boost for Everton, who finished fifth in the WSL last season and have ambitions to compete for a place in the top three and Champions League qualification.

Telegraph