FC Barcelona icon Alexia Putellas, a pivotal figure for both the Catalan club and the history of women’s football, has announced her next career move. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner will join the London City Lionesses in the Women’s Super League for the upcoming two seasons.
After a distinguished 14-year tenure at Barcelona, where she secured two Ballon d’Or awards (2021, 2022), four Champions League titles, and ten league championships, Putellas surprised many by deciding to leave the club at the end of the current season. Despite receiving offers from clubs globally, including from the United States, her decision to play in the Women’s Super League stems from two primary factors: the desire to be closer to her family in Barcelona and to join a competitive team with aspirations of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup next summer.
The London City Lionesses boast a growing contingent of Spanish talent, including goalkeeper Jana Fernández and forward Lucía Corrales, both of whom are Putellas’s national teammates. The team also features a Spanish head coach, Eder Maestre. Furthermore, former Barça player Mapi León is set to join the Lionesses, strengthening the squad.
Founded in 2019, the Lionesses have progressed rapidly, winning the Championship title in the 2024/25 season before finishing sixth out of twelve teams in their debut Women’s Super League campaign in 25/26. As they have not qualified for the Women’s Champions League, Putellas will not face her former teammates in that competition during her initial year with the London club.