London City Lionesses Pursue Alexia Putellas
The London City Lionesses appear to be in the driver’s seat to secure the services of renowned midfielder Alexia Putellas, who has publicly declared her intention to depart from Barcelona after a distinguished 14-year tenure. According to multiple reports from ESPN, negotiations between Putellas and the Lionesses are currently underway, yet no agreement has been finalized at this time.
Putellas Weighs Her Options
Putellas, aged 32, is reportedly weighing her options, with at least two other offers on the table—a proposal from a club in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and another from a Mexican side, although the identity of the teams has not been disclosed. Furthermore, sources indicate that she remains receptive to additional opportunities and is not hasty in deciding her next career move.
Currently, she is representing Spain on the international stage, having recently scored twice in a decisive 4-0 victory over England, contributing to her team’s pursuit of qualification for the World Cup scheduled for next summer in Brazil. A crucial match against Iceland is on the horizon, after which she intends to take a holiday to carefully evaluate her options before making a commitment.
Potential Roster Boost for the Lionesses
In a related development, ESPN has learned that the Lionesses are on track to add another Barcelona talent to their roster, having reportedly secured a deal for defender Mapi León, who is set to leave the Catalan club as a free agent this summer. The acquisition of Putellas alongside León would signify a remarkable boost for a team that was newly promoted to the Women’s Super League (WSL) just over a year ago, where they finished respectably in sixth place during their inaugural season.
Strategic Moves by London City
Michele Kang, the owner of London City, has shown a penchant for tapping into Barcelona’s talent pool, previously appointing coach Jonatan Giráldez and former sporting director Markel Zubizarreta to leadership positions within her organization, which includes multiple teams like the Washington Spirit and Olympique Lyonnais. This strategy has included signing other Barça players such as Jana Fernández and Lucía Corrales since their promotion in 2025, but the potential addition of Putellas could play a pivotal role in shaping the club’s future trajectory.
Putellas’ Legacy at Barcelona
Putellas, who announced her departure from Barcelona after helping them clinch their fourth Champions League title against Lyon, has left a legacy that includes 38 major trophies—among them, 10 Liga F titles and four Champions League crowns. With a remarkable 232 goals, she holds the record as the top scorer in the history of Barcelona’s women’s team and is second overall behind Lionel Messi‘s legendary tally.
Her individual accolades—winning the Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022, as well as being crowned The Best FIFA Women’s Player—reflect her influence not only in her club’s success but also in international competitions, where she recently triumphed with Spain in the World Cup.
