Alexia Putellas Officially Joins London City Lionesses Next Season

Alexia Putellas has been officially unveiled as the new signing for the London City Lionesses, confirming rumours that had been circulating for the past two weeks. Putellas, 32, departs FC Barcelona after 14 years. However, contrary to earlier reports suggesting her desire to stay close to her family in Spain and play in a top-tier league with an eye on selection for the 2027 World Cup, where Spain will defend their title, she has made a move to England.

The London City Lionesses are a relatively new team, founded in 2019, who achieved promotion from the Championship to the Women's Super League after winning the second-division title in the 2024/25 season. In their subsequent season, 25/26, their debut in the top flight, the Lionesses secured a sixth-place finish out of twelve teams. Crucially, as they did not qualify for the Women's Champions League, Putellas will not face her former Barcelona teammates in European competition.

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner expressed enthusiasm for contributing off the pitch as well, aiming to "advance women's football in England and on the international stage." The club, which operates independently without a men's team – a contrast to most major Women's Super League clubs – states this marks a historic moment for London City, establishing them as "a beacon of innovation and independence."

English Translation and Paraphrasing:

Original French: Alexia Putellas a été officiellement présentée comme nouvelle joueuse des London City Lionesses, confirmant ainsi les rumeurs qui circulaient depuis deux semaines. Putellas, 32 ans, a quitté le FC Barcelone après 14 ans, mais d’après ce qu’on savait déjà, son objectif était de rester près de sa famille en Espagne et de jouer dans un championnat de haut niveau, dans l’espoir d’être sélectionnée pour la Coupe du monde 2027, où l’Espagne défendra son titre.

Paraphrased English: Alexia Putellas has now officially been announced as a new player for the London City Lionesses, putting to rest speculation that has been ongoing for the past fortnight. The 32-year-old Putellas has left FC Barcelona after a 14-year tenure. However, contrary to prior understanding that her priority was to remain near her family in Spain and compete in a high-level league with aspirations of making the squad for the 2027 World Cup, where Spain aims to defend its championship, she has made a move to England.

Original French: Les London City Lionesses sont une jeune équipe, fondée en 2019, qui a décroché sa promotion du Championship à la Women's Super League après avoir remporté le titre de deuxième division en 2024/25. La saison suivante, 25/26, leur première dans l'élite, les Lionesses ont terminé sixièmes sur douze. Par contre, comme elles ne se sont pas qualifiées pour la Ligue des champions féminine, Putellas n'affrontera pas ses anciennes coéquipières de Barcelone.

Paraphrased English: The London City Lionesses are a nascent club, established in 2019, who secured their ascent from the Championship to the Women's Super League following their championship victory in the second division during the 2024/25 season. In the subsequent 25/26 season, their inaugural campaign in the top tier, the Lionesses concluded in sixth place out of a total of twelve teams. Significantly, due to their failure to qualify for the Women's Champions League, Putellas will not be competing against her former Barcelona teammates in that competition.

Original French: La double lauréate du Ballon d’Or serait ravie de s’investir en dehors du terrain aussi, pour « faire progresser le foot féminin en Angleterre et sur la scène internationale ». Le club, qui est indépendant et ne possède pas d'équipe masculine, contrairement à la plupart des grandes équipes de la Super League féminine, affirme qu'il s'agit d'un moment historique pour London City, qui s'impose ainsi « comme un modèle d'innovation et d'indépendance ».

Paraphrased English: The two-time Ballon d'Or recipient has expressed her eagerness to contribute beyond the pitch, with the goal of "advancing women's football in England and on the international stage." The club, which operates as an independent entity and does not field a men's team—a departure from the norm for most prominent Women's Super League clubs—asserts that this represents a landmark moment for London City, positioning them as "a model of innovation and independence."