The Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord has returned to the Women’s Super League with a move to Manchester City. The 26-year-old, who was with Arsenal from 2019 to 2021, joins from Wolfsburg, the Champions League runners-up, on a three-year deal. City are understood to have paid a club-record fee of more than £300,000 to sign Roord, scorer of 31 goals in 69 appearances for Wolfsburg. She has played 86 times for her country, helping them win Euro 2017 on home soil and finish as runners-up at the 2019 World Cup in France. Roord, part of the Netherlands squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, said: “Playing in England again is like a dream. I feel I have developed a lot as a player during my time in Germany. In my conversations with Gareth [Taylor, the City manager], I heard everything that I wanted to hear. We think the same way about football, which is important, and where he sees me in the team was ideal. It is the perfect fit.” Aston Villa have signed the defender Lucy Parker on a contract to 2025 with the option of a further year after the 24-year-old rejected a new deal at West Ham. Parker, twice called up by England but yet to make her international debut, played 40 times for West Ham in two seasons. Villa’s manager, Carla Ward, said: “We know we had a lot of competition to sign her. She’s a front-footed, ball-playing centre-half and is will add a lot of quality to our defensive unit.” Manchester United have signed the Wales defender Gemma Evans. The 26-year-old, who has 50 caps, joins after two seasons with Reading, who were relegated from the WSL last season.