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EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City chase highly-rated 17-year-old Aston Villa defender Evie Rabjohn … as Emma Hayes calls for FA to bring in transfer fees for players under the age of 18
- Aston Villa defender Evie Rabjohn is interesting Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea
- The 17-year-old made her senior debut for Villa last season and is highly-rated
- Manchester United failed in an attempt to sign the centre-back this summer
- Rabjohn is unable to sign a professional contract until she turns 18 years old
- Chelsea boss Emma Hayes is calling for clubs to be able to sign younger players for compensation
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Aston Villa’s highly rated Evie Rabjohn is attracting interest from the Women’s Super League’s top three clubs.
The 17-year-old defender, who received her first call-up to the England U19 squad on Friday, made her senior debut for Villa last season.
Manchester United failed in a bid to sign Rabjohn this summer but retain a strong interest in pursuing a move for the centre back.
Aston Villa defender Evie Rabjohn is attracting interest from the WSL’s top three clubs
Aston Villa finished ninth in the top flight last season and Rabjohn made her senior debut
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes called for an FA rule change to allow clubs to sign players under 18
Rabjohn cannot sign a professional deal with Villa until she turns 18 in April, meaning other WSL clubs would be able to sign her before then without having to pay compensation.
Villa are desperate to keep hold of the England youth star, who has been a prominent fixture in the club’s pre-season fixtures.
The Football Association has so far resisted calls to bring in transfer fees for players under the age of 18.
Rabjohn cannot sign a professional deal until her 18th birthday with Villa desperate to keep her
Manchester United failed in an attempt to sign the highly-rated centre-back this summer
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes last week called for clubs to be able to sign players at an earlier age. ‘In order to develop your own you’ve got to be able to sign your own and keep your own. We can’t do that as football clubs.
‘We can’t sign a player until they’re 18. You can develop anyone 12, 13 – Lauren James, good example, Alessio Russo for us.
‘At (the age of) 16 someone else can say “hey, we’re signing them”, a week you get no compensation, nothing. That has to change because I think it will force the hands of Chelsea’s and Arsenal’s.’
Rabjohn’s sister, Olivia, is also at Aston Villa and made her debut alongside her sister last season.
The 20-year-old midfielder is also highly rated and has been part of England’s youth teams.