Zelem, Kennedy and Fernandez sign for London City Lionesses | OneFootball

Katie Zelem and Alanna Kennedy (London City Lionesses)

Katie Zelem and Alanna Kennedy have become the latest big names to sign for London City Lionesses ahead of the new Women’s Super League season.

Both join from Angel City FC in the US’s NWSL.

“The growth in women’s football has been exceptional. I really can’t wait to be a part of this club. Hopefully I can bring a lot of experience, knowledge and some good football to the team,” Zelem said to the club website.

“I’m excited to be part of such a historic season for the club,” added Kennedy.

“The ambitions of the club and what they want to do – win trophies and titles – as a player that’s what you want to do.

“It’s something that is going to take time to build, I’m excited to be a part of the early stages of this project and hopefully we can have a lot of success this season.”

In a separate announcement, the club have also confirmed the signing of Spain international Jana Fernandez from Barcelona.

“It’s an ambitious project; I’m really looking forward to the start of the season,” the centre back said in a statement.

Katie Zelem’s career so far

29-year-old Katie Zelem signed for Angel City last summer after six successful years at Manchester United, during which she helped them to promotion from the then-FA Women’s Championship, and captained the side to a Women’s FA Cup win.

Famously, the midfielder had begun her youth career at United in the years before they had a professional women’s team, and so Zelem joined Liverpool shortly before turning 18. She was part of the squad that won two consecutive WSL titles, in 2013 and 2014.

She signed for Juventus in 2017, spending one season there as they won Serie A.

Zelem has represented England throughout the youth age groups, and made her senior debut in 2021. She was part of the squad that reached the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Alanna Kennedy’s facts and stats

30-year-old Alanna Kennedy is a versatile player and has featured in midfield and defence. In her native Australia, she has played for Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory, and in the US she has had spells at Western New York Flash and Orlando Pride as well as Angel City.

She will be familiar to fans of the WSL for her time at Tottenham Hotspur, with whom she signed in 2021 after a successful loan spell, and Manchester City, where she spent four years

She has more than 100 caps for Australia, and has played at world Cups as well as three Olympic Games.