Missy Bo Kearns Expecting — The Villans Family Is Growing

There will be a brief pause in Missy Bo Kearns’ time on the pitch, but it comes with joyful news. The England international has shared that she and her partner are expecting a baby — meaning the Aston Villa family is about to grow by one very special new supporter.

Pregnancy during an active playing career is not especially common in women’s football — but neither is it unprecedented. Australian international Katrina Gorry has been something of a trailblazer in that respect, as has Iceland’s Dagný Brynjarsdóttir.

Beyond England, former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder Kateřina Svitková recently announced her pregnancy as well. After returning home to the Czech league, she became the division’s most productive player and celebrated a domestic double with Slavia Prague before leaving to maternity leave. According to her own words, she eants to came back as soon as possible.

Motherhood is increasingly becoming part of the conversation in elite women’s football. Manchester United’s Celin Bizet is currently sidelined due to pregnancy, and she is now joined by Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns in taking a career pause for the same joyful reason.