Rachel Daly scoops PFA Players’ Player of the Year

Rachel Daly has won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year after an incredible first season at Aston Villa. 

When Carla Ward pulled off the exciting transfer to bring Rachel Daly back to England from Houston Dash, she was asked where she planned on playing her. After all, Daly has been a regular England international predominantly chosen to play at left-back. 

Ward responded to the question as if she could see into the future and foretell the abundance of goals Daly would rack up in her first season: “She will definitely be playing as a striker” Ward said with no uncertainty and handed Daly the Villa number 9 shirt.

Rachel Daly went on to score 22 goals in 22 appearances, as Aston Villa emerged as the surprise package of the 2022/23 WSL season. Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw was her closest rival for the WSL top scorer, with 20 goals.