Six new signings have joined Watford Ladies ahead of their Spring Series opener at Aston Villa on Sunday while several other players from last season’s squad have remained with the Lady Hornets.

Four of the new faces have previously played Women’s Super League football with Millwall Lionesses – Rinsola Babajide, Lilli Maple, Cherrelle Albert and Meghan McKeag – and they are joined by Leah Cudone and Vicky Neal.

Although several of last season’s first-team squad have moved on to other clubs, new head coach Keith Boanas will be able to call upon the likes of Ruby Baxter, Lucy Gillett, Charlotte Kerr and Anneka Nuttall in the one-off bridging series that has been established to enable the women’s game to return to a winter fixture cycle from this autumn.

The Lady Hornets have also announced that Chloe Bassett, Kerry Walklett and Caoimhe O’Reilly will also be stepping up to the first-team squad, having featured for it previously.