Diana Silva is embracing a new challenge both personally and professionally after joining Aston Villa Women from Sporting CP.
The 25-year-old decided to move away from her native Portugal for the first time in order to link up with Gemma Davies’ squad for their debut season in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
And the prospect of building a life in England while playing against some of the best players in the world is one that Silva is relishing - something she made clear in her first interview with VillaTV.
She said: “I wanted to take a new step in my career and do something different.
“I want to be better as a player and as a person, and Villa seemed like a very good opportunity.
“I’ve never been out of Portugal, so it’s a big step for me. I achieved a couple of championships with Sporting and I hope to conquer more here.”
Silva arrives with a reputation for scoring goals, something she did regularly for previous clubs Atletico Ouriense, Club de Albergaria and Sporting CP.
She has also thrived in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and on the international stage with Portugal, becoming an integral part of the national team and winning 58 caps.
Silva intends to keep improving and striving for success during her time at Aston Villa.
“I hope to score goals, to be happy here and to help Villa stay in the Super League as it’s the first season in the top league,” she said.
“It’s very encouraging [the signings Villa have made] and I think we will have a very good, very competitive team.
“I’m just super excited for the season to start and happy with the team I’m joining.”
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