Anita Asante

Anita Amma Ankyewah Asante (born 27 April 1985) is an English football defender currently playing for Aston Villa in the FA WSL. As indicated by her name, Asante is of Ghanaian descent (the appellation "Ama" is of Akan origin, given to girls born on Saturday). Asante has earned 71 caps for the English national team and was selected in the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

At club level, Asante has also played for English sides Arsenal and Chelsea, whilst also having played for Saint Louis Athletica, Chicago Red Stars, Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). Prior signing for FC Rosengard in 2013, she spent two seasons in Sweden with Goteborg.

Club Career

Asante joined her first club Arsenal as a junior in 1998. She became a senior player in 2003/2004 season. Asante was part of the Arsenal team that won the quadruple in 2006/2007, collecting the UEFA Women's Cup, FA Women's National Premier League, FA Women's Cup and the FA Women's Premier League Cup. Asante was part of the Arsenal team that made history by being the first team outside Germany or Scandinavia to win the UEFA Women's Cup. Asante is reported to have played exceptionally well in the final.

On 3 July 2008, it was announced that Asante along with teammate Lianne Sanderson had joined Chelsea Ladies. Upon signing Asante said:

Arsenal manager Vic Akers publicly criticized the players after their departure: "You think you've the respect of players, and then they do that. It's a sorry state of affairs."

In 2009 Asante joined New Jersey–based WPS franchise Sky Blue FC. She helped the club win the inaugural WPS championship. On 6 May 2010 Asante was traded to the Saint Louis Athletica in return for India Trotter. When the Saint Louis Athletica folded on 27 May 2010, she was acquired by the Chicago Red Stars. She was subsequently traded to the Washington Freedom on 6 August 2010.

In December 2010 Asante returned for a second spell at Sky Blue FC, after Jim Gabarra