London City Lionesses: The complete guide to the WSL’s newest force | OneFootball

If you’re used to seeing women’s football tied to a men’s side, meet London City Lionesses. A fully independent club forging their own legacy.

In 2019, they walked away from one of England’s oldest women’s teams to stand alone. Many doubted they’d survive, let alone thrive. But London City have defied expectation. Rising from a risky breakaway to a promotion-winning side chasing the biggest names in the game.

Now, with a billionaire owner, a blockbuster summer of signings, and their Women’s Super League debut on the horizon, the roar from South London is impossible to ignore.

Breaking away from Millwall

The club was founded in 2019 after a decisive and controversial split from Millwall Lionesses.

At the time, the women’s side, despite its long history, was struggling under the Millwall umbrella. There were concerns about limited financial backing, a lack of long-term strategy, and restrictions on how the women’s team could grow. Entrepreneur Anthony Culligan and his wife Diane believed players and staff would thrive with more autonomy, stronger investment and a structure dedicated entirely to the women’s game.

With FA approval, they took over Millwall’s Championship licence and launched a completely indepedent entity: London City Lionesses. The move allowed the club to control its own finances, branding and development, free from constraints of being a secondary priority to a men’s team.

Laying the foundations

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The first few seasons as an independent club were a mixture of growing pains and steady progress. Without the financial muscle of a major backer, the Lionesses relied on shrewd recruitment, dedicated staff and a clear focus on building a comeptitive Championship side. They quickly earned a reputation of being hard to beat, finishing as high as second in the 2021/22 season.

These years were about survival and identity — proving a women’s club could stand alone. They developed players and made the most of limited resources. While they didn’t secure promotion during this period, they laid the foundations for a professional environment and an ambitious culture that would later attract serious investment.

These years were about survival and identity — proving that a women’s club could stand alone. They invested in grassroots links, developed younger players, and made the most of limited resources. However, stability was tested in late 2023 when long-serving manager Melissa Phillips stepped down, creating uncertainty about the club’s future direction. The leadership gap, combined with the desire to finally secure promotion, opened the door for a new era.

Michele Kang influence

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In December 2023, the club entered a new era when US businesswoman Michele Kang took ownership. Kang, who also owns Washington Spirit and Olympique Lyonnais, brought fresh investment, global expertise and a clear ambition: get London City into the WSL and keep them there.

She moved matches from Princes Park in Dartford to Hayes Lane in Bromley and established Cobdown Park in Aylesford as a high performance training base. Kang also integrated the team into Kynisca Sports International, her multi-club network.

This gives London City access to elite sports science, data analytics and scouting resources usually reserved for the giants of the game. It’s also brought in a management shake-up, with former Paris Saint-Germain coach Jocelyn Prêcheur now at the helm.

London City Lionesses promoted to WSL

The 2024/25 season will go down in club history. After a strong campaign, London City Lionesses clinched the Championship title and became the first fully independent club to reach the WSL. A tense 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on the final day sealed promotion. Isobel Goodwin finished as top goalscorer on 16 goals.

London City Lionesses new signings

If promotion was the starting pistol, the summer of 2025 has been the sprint. London City have overhauled their squad with a series of headline-grabbing signings.

The first big splash was the signing of Dutch international and former Arsenal star Daniëlle van de Donk, joining from Lyon on a two-year deal. Her blend of Champions League pedigree and WSL familiarity immediately elevated the midfield. Next came Sanni Franssi, the Finnish forward from Real Sociedad, whose goal-scoring knack and versatility added much-needed firepower up front.

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The club has invested in youth and defensive solidity with Isa Kardinall arriving from Ajax, while Teyah Goldie — after impressing on loan — signed permanently, reinforcing a backline growing in confidence.

Fans also welcomed the arrivals of Poppy Pattinson, bringing years of WSL left-back experience from Brighton, and Elene Lete, the composed goalkeeper from Real Sociedad. Other additions include promising talents Sophia Poor from Aston Villa, Freya Godfrey from Arsenal, and Nikita Parris, the England international who joined following her contract expiring with Brighton.

Adding to the defensive strength, the Lionesses completed the signing of Jana Fernández from Barcelona, a young Spanish international whose technical ability and composure on the ball make her one of Europe’s brightest prospects. To top it off, they secured Elena Linari, the Italian defender from AS Roma, and Paula Partido, a rising midfield talent from Real Madrid — blending experience with future potential.

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This whirlwind of signings showed their intent — London City Lionesses weren’t just building a squad to survive, they were constructing one to dominate.

Reports also recently emerged from Sky Sports that London City had made a formal approach for Beth Mead from Arsenal. While nothing has been confirmed, the attempt alone shows the scale of their ambitions.

Star power on the pitch

Beyond the busy transfer window, the Lionesses already boast a glittering line-up. Swedish internationals Kosovare Asllani, who captains the side, and Sofia Jakobsson alongside Japan’s Saki Kumaga, bring invaluable experience to the side. Combined with their new recruits, the squad look ready to hit the WSL running.

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Why it matters

London City Lionesses are not just another team moving up the ladder. They are proof that an independent women’s club can thrive at the highest level. They’ve shown that with smart leadership, serious investment and fearless ambition that you can challenge the dominance of men’s club’s affiliated teams.

Their story is already inspiring fans and future club owners alike. With their debut WSL season ahead, London City are ready to show they belong among the elite.

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