Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas has chosen to join Women’s Super League club London City Lionesses, according to sources close to the player.
The 32-year-old left Barcelona in May after 14 years with the club, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in women’s football history.
Sources close to Putellas told BBC Sport she selected the South London club ahead of Boston Legacy in the United States, the final two contenders among many who pursued her signature.
London City Lionesses are confident of completing the deal, though club sources confirm no final agreement has yet been reached between the two parties.
The move represents a remarkable coup for an independent women’s football club that has continued to make waves in the transfer market since their top-flight arrival.
London City Lionesses finished sixth in their debut WSL season last year, while Putellas was leading Barcelona to a fourth Champions League title.
Almost every financially capable club in world football registered interest in Putellas, making London City Lionesses’ success in this pursuit all the more extraordinary.
During her 14 years at Barcelona, Putellas accumulated 38 trophies in total, including an impressive 10 league titles across her career.
The Spain midfielder scored a club record 232 goals in 507 appearances, sitting second on the all-time appearance list just nine behind Melanie Serrano on 516.
She won the World Cup with Spain in 2023 and was part of the squad that finished runners-up to England at Euro 2025.
Putellas was ruled out of Euro 2022 on the eve of the tournament with an anterior cruciate ligament injury before returning to action at the end of the following season.
Since regaining full fitness, Putellas has consistently produced the kind of performances that earned her back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards in 2021 and 2022.
Sources indicate that London City Lionesses began their pursuit of Putellas as far back as January and maintained confidence throughout that a deal could be secured.
She will arrive on a free transfer having allowed her Barcelona contract to expire, though London City Lionesses are believed to have offered substantial wages to secure her signing.
