London City Lionesses have completed the biggest transfer in Women’s Super League history by signing two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas from Barcelona.
The Spanish midfielder, known in her homeland as ‘La Reina’ — the Queen — spent 14 years at Barcelona, helping them win 38 major trophies including 10 league titles and four Champions Leagues.
Putellas won back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards in 2021 and 2022 before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of Euro 2022 that threatened to derail her career.
She recovered to win the World Cup with Spain in 2023 and was part of the squad that finished runners-up to England at Euro 2025 last summer.
With her Barcelona contract expiring, sources say Putellas felt it was time for a new challenge and had always been attracted to the idea of playing in the WSL.
She received offers from England, Mexico and the United States, with sources close to the player stating Boston Legacy provided the stiffest competition for her signature.
Despite interest from the majority of the world’s top clubs, London City Lionesses were always confident they could land Putellas, having pursued her for some time before agreeing terms in recent weeks.
Owner Michele Kang’s ambitions proved decisive, with sources close to Putellas suggesting she admired the US billionaire’s vision for the women’s game after years of observing her investment at Lyon.
The Spaniard revealed the pair first met in Miami four years ago over dinner, where they discussed their shared vision for football’s future and the legacy they both wanted to help build.
Putellas also wanted to join a club where she could make an impact off the pitch as well as on it, and London City’s five-year plan to compete for trophies and European qualification clearly appealed.
She has given up Champions League football to make the move — a significant sacrifice for someone who captained Barcelona to victory in 2026 — though the club aim to challenge for a European spot this season.
A three-year deal in Bromley has secured her future ahead of the 2027 World Cup, with sources at London City confirming she is earning less than £1m as a base salary, with potential add-ons and bonuses beyond that figure.
The club did not approach Barcelona in January, when they were eligible to do so, because Putellas had made clear she wanted to finish the season without distraction.
There is already considerable Spanish influence at London City, with General Manager Gonzalo Rodriguez Garcia, former Barcelona executive Markel Zubizarreta, and manager Eder Maestre all in key roles at the club.
Putellas’ close friend Jana Fernandez has flourished since joining London City from Barcelona last year, and the arrival of Spain defender Mapi Leon is understood to be imminent.
Sources at London City say they have already received enquiries from other top players off the back of the club’s connection to Putellas, suggesting further recruitment could follow quickly.
Her commercial profile is equally valuable to a club building a fanbase from scratch, with London City having only earned promotion to the WSL last season after competing in the second tier in 2025.
Putellas is arriving in London earlier than planned ahead of pre-season, having turned down commercial opportunities at the men’s World Cup to prioritise her new club.
Her signing raises broader questions about financial disparity in the WSL, as well as potential debate around the salary cap and its impact on clubs without the same capacity for rapid growth.
There is also the matter of Uefa’s ruling preventing multi-club owners from having more than one club in the Champions League, which may eventually force Kang to make a difficult decision regarding London City and Lyon.
