Aston Villa defender Paula Tomás retires aged 24 due to knee injury
Aston Villa Women defender Paula Tomás has retired from professional football at the age of 24 due to a persistent knee injury. The club confirmed the Spaniard's decision in a social media post on Saturday, bringing a premature end to a promising career.
The left-back, who joined Villa from Levante in 2024, had been limited to just five appearances this season as she struggled with the recurring issue. In an emotional statement shared by the club, Tomás explained that her body had forced the difficult choice, stating she must now prioritise her health. "A page of my life is turning, a part of me, of who I am, disappears," Tomás said. "My body asked me to stop and, for this reason, in an almost forced way, I have to prioritise my health and separate from what I love."
Tomás began her career at Levante, making over 50 appearances for the Spanish side before her move to the Women's Super League. She was regarded as a technically gifted full-back with significant potential, and her departure represents a blow to Villa's defensive options. According to reports from Spain, the player had been managing the knee problem for several months before concluding she could no longer continue at the required level.
For Aston Villa, managed by Carla Ward, the retirement leaves a gap in the squad ahead of the final stages of the season. The team is currently competing in the upper mid-table of the WSL and will need to address the defensive depth in future transfer windows. Tomás's early retirement follows a worrying trend of players being forced out of the game due to injury at a young age, a subject of increasing concern within women's football.
The club's statement expressed support for Tomás, noting that everyone at Villa wished her well for the future and that she would always be welcome at Villa Park. Her retirement underscores the physical demands of the professional game and the difficult decisions players sometimes face when long-term health is at stake. Tomás's career, though brief, saw her achieve a move to one of England's top divisions, a path now cut short by circumstances beyond her control.
