Alexia Putellas makes groundbreaking WSL move as she signs for London City Lionesses | OneFootball

For what feels like the first time in her career, Alexia Putellas is stepping into the unknown as she makes the blockbuster move to the Women’s Super League.

After 14 years at FC Barcelona Femeni, two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas has decided that her next destination is London City Lionesses. The club has finally confirmed Alexia’s arrival and the start of a groundbreaking WSL era.

The decision to move to England was not rushed.

When Putellas announced her departure from Barcelona, she admitted she still hadn’t decided where she would play next. There were offers on the table from several clubs, including serious interest from the United States. Leaving the club she had called home for more than a decade was never going to be a simple decision.

She gave herself time. Time to process the end of an era and weigh her options.

London appealed to Putellas for several reasons. The WSL presents a new challenge and a level of week-to-week competition that many consider unmatched in the women’s game. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, the Spanish legend wanted to continue competing at the highest level while testing herself in a completely different environment.

Of course, another goal was being close to home.

Family has always played a central role in her life and career and staying in Europe played a significant factor in her decision. England offers the opportunity to experience a new culture and a new league without putting an ocean between herself and the people who have supported her throughout her journey.

Embed from Getty Images

The project itself also proves difficult to ignore. Owned by Michele Kang, London City Lionesses have emerged as one of the fastest-growing clubs in women’s football. Unlike many teams across Europe, London City exists solely to serve women’s football. There is no men’s side. No shared structure. Every investment and long-term plan is focused entirely on the women’s game.

That vision appears to have resonated with Putellas.

After winning everything there was to win at Barcelona, she was looking for something different. A new challenge. A place where she could continue competing for success while helping shape a project that is still growing.

She will not be arriving alone.

The move reunites Putellas with several familiar faces from the Spanish side. Former Barcelona teammate Jana Fernández is already part of the London City squad, while fellow Spaniard Lucía Corrales has also joined the club’s ambitious project. Reports in Spain suggest that Mapi León is also expected to make the move over. It seems that a strong Spanish core in the dressing room is imminent.

The lure of London City Lionesses

The club has also made headlines elsewhere this summer. England goalkeeper Mary Earps recently joined following the end of her spell at Paris Saint-Germain, while highly-rated winger Freya Godfrey has committed her future to the club with a new contract extension.

Together, those moves paint a picture of a club preparing for something much bigger.

Spanish football has always feared the possibility of their biggest stars being drawn away. With academies like La Masia churning out younger talents, there shouldn’t be much to fear for Spain. The financial power and competitive depth of the WSL have increasingly made it a destination league.

Now, one of Spain’s greatest ever players is making that leap.

For Putellas, this move is not about leaving Barcelona behind. Nothing will erase what she built there. The trophies, the records, and her legacy remain untouched. Instead, it is about embracing something new.

At 32, with another World Cup cycle ahead of her, Alexia Putellas has decided that her comfort zone is no longer where she wants to be. And in London, she believes she has found the perfect place to start again.

Alexia Putellas earned approximately €750,000 (£640,000/$850,000) per year at Barcelona. Her move to London City comes with a slight pay rise. According to a source familiar with the deal, her base salary will remain below €1 million annually with the contract running for an initial three years. Performance related bonuses and other incentives could increase her overall earnings.

Related articles from Her Football Hub: