Why Putellas to London City would be biggest signing in WSL history

Image source, Getty Images

• Published26 minutes ago

The number of trophies on the Barcelona pitch said it all.

During 14 years at the Catalan giants, Alexia Putellas has won 38, and for a special farewell ceremony on Wednesday, the club put them all on display.

Having announced her impending exit on Tuesday, sources confirmed to BBC Sport that Women's Super League side London City Lionesses are confident of striking a deal for the two-time Ballon d'Or winner.

The 32-year-old is yet to confirm her next move and clubs in the United States have also been jostling for her signature.

If she does opt for London City owner Michelle Kang's project, it would be the biggest signing in WSL history.

But why would one of the best female players ever exchange the Camp Nou for the new campers pitching up among the WSL status quo?

And what message would it send to the rest of the women's game?

• London City pursuing Putellas after Barca exit

  • Published23 hours ago

'In her prime' - why Putellas remains a world great

In 2021 and 2022, Putellas became the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or in consecutive years after helping Barcelona to their maiden continental treble.

Her star has not fallen. Last Saturday, she led her team to a dominant 4-0 victory over Lyon in Oslo for her fourth Champions League title.

Her status at Barcelona is illustrated by the tributes that poured in - with interim president Rafael Yuste declaring he "loves her from the bottom of his heart" and club legends Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets among those sending messages.

"Alexia is more than a footballer here," explained Spanish journalist Irati Vidal. "She has become the image of women's football and made kids believe they can be a girl and also be a footballer."

Indeed, in Vidal's eyes, Putellas' farewell ceremony topped that of another former Barcelona icon.

"They opened the Camp Nou for Alexia," she said. "For Lionel Messi, they just had a room - and this was more emotional."

Even though Putellas is now 32, and has suffered a number of injuries including an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in July 2022, England's all-time top goalscorer Ellen White believes she is still improving.

"I think she is getting better and better," White told the Women's Football Weekly. "Potentially she is in her prime now, even better than when she won the Ballon d'Or."

Putellas herself believes she has plenty left to offer.

"I always said I wanted my final moment to come while I was at my very best," she said on her farewell Instagram post. "It has been a perfect story."

At her best, she walks into any team in world football.

London City continue to be disruptive

On the eve of the 2025-26 season, promoted London City chief executive Martin Semmens told the BBC their aim was to be "disruptive", adding success was "not a 10-year project" but one to be carried out swiftly.

Now, after a mid-table finish in their first WSL campaign, that mission is gathering pace.

If Putellas were to sign, she would join an enclave of Spanish speakers at the Lionesses, including boss Eder Maestre and a trio already poached from Barcelona: full-back Jana Fernandez, midfielder Maria Perez and talented young striker Lucia Corrales.

Owner Kang faces challenges though, particularly given recent comments by Uefa's head of women's football Nadine Kessler that clubs with the same owners will be strictly prohibited from playing together in the Champions League.

Kang also owns finalists Lyon.

However, adding Putellas to her upwardly mobile London City squad would certainly shorten the odds on them achieving European football soon.

While that may be true, there remains a big gap to bridge.

After all, London City finished 22 points behind third-placed Chelsea and lost five of their six games against the top three (including Arsenal and champions Manchester City), by an aggregate score of 15-4.

Similarly, their average attendance of just under 3,000 for 2025-26 is middle of the pack for the WSL - and lower than all those clubs they would have to leapfrog to reach the top.

The rising stock of the WSL

Image source, Getty Images

A Putellas arrival would not just make a statement for London City.

The WSL has never had a Ballon d'Or winner in the division and ultimately, if the league's sixth-best team can lure Putellas, that sends an ominous message about its financial and reputational might.

Vidal believes the attraction of the WSL is seeping across Europe.

"It is clear they are paying more in England - Spain cannot compete with that," she said. "Also, players want to be competitive every weekend. For many years, Barcelona have not had a rival.

"There is a fear of losing all talent to England and if Alexia Putellas leaves for the WSL, that opens it up to everyone."

This season, three English teams made the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but only Arsenal reached the semis.

In 2026-27, dominant WSL champions Manchester City will return to Europe's premier competition, and have retained top scorer Khadija Shaw on a lucrative new contract.

Shaw is one of many WSL players who can be counted among the world's best -Arsenal's Alessia Russo, Chelsea's Lauren James and Manchester City's Yui Hasegawa are among those to thrive this season.

Others among Europe's elite, including Bayern Munich's Georgia Stanway and Putellas' Barcelona team-mate Ona Batlle, could also switch to England this summer.

"I think the WSL can replicate to some extent what we have seen with the Premier League," said football finance expert Kieran Maguire, "in that it effectively becomes a super league in its own right.

"There is sufficient interest from broadcasters, fans and commercially. It means WSL clubs can outbid clubs from elsewhere in Europe in terms of transfer fees and that will drive players here as well."

Domestically, the league is increasing to 14 teams in September, with guaranteed TV funding until 2030 ensuring finances remain in rude health.

Both Chelsea and Brighton have committed to their women's teams in recent months too, the former lining up all home matches for Stamford Bridge next season and the latter announcing plans for Europe's first bespoke stadium.

A potential Putellas arrival only adds to the anticipation for next season's biggest year yet.

• Shaw signs new Man City deal after contract U-turn

  • Published1 day ago

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