FC Barcelona icon Alexia Putellas, a monumental figure in both Catalan club history and the broader landscape of women’s football, has announced her new club: the London City Lionesses of the Women’s Super League, committing to a two-year deal.
Putellas, 32, concluded a remarkable 14-year tenure at Barcelona, during which she secured two Ballon d’Or awards (2021 and 2022), four Champions League titles, and ten league championships. Her departure at the end of the current season has come as a considerable surprise to her devoted fanbase. Despite receiving numerous offers from clubs worldwide, including from the United States, she opted for the Women’s Super League for two primary reasons: proximity to her family in Barcelona and the ambition of joining a competitive squad aiming to qualify for the 2027 World Cup next summer.
The London City Lionesses boast a strong Spanish contingent. Among them are goalkeeper Jana Fernández and forward Lucía Corrales, both of whom have shared the pitch with Putellas on the Spanish national team. The team also benefits from Spanish coaching in Eder Maestre. Furthermore, former Barça player Mapi León is set to join the London City Lionesses.
Established in 2019, the Lionesses previously competed in the Championship, England’s second division, clinching the title in the 2024/25 season. In their inaugural season in the Women’s Super League (25/26), they secured a sixth-place finish out of twelve teams. As the team has not qualified for the Women’s Champions League, Alexia Putellas will not face her former Barcelona teammates in that competition, at least during her initial year.