Alexia Putellas joins London City Lionesses on a free contract

London City Lionesses just caused a big surprise when they announced the signing of Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, on a three-year deal. This is considered one of the biggest deals in women's football history. Alexia Putellas, a Spanish player, considered one of the brightest stars in world women's football, left Barcelona after 14 years in May and attracted interest from many top clubs around the globe.

At the age of 32, Putellas has won 38 titles with Barcelona, ​​including 10 La Liga titles. She joins London City Lionesses on a free transfer with a base salary believed to be under £1m per year, but this figure could increase with bonuses. The contract announcement took place in New York City with the participation of Michele Kang, the American billionaire owner of the London City club.

Putellas told BBC Sport: "Everything has a beginning and an end. The history at Barcelona is perfect. After 14 years, I feel this is the right time to leave. I need to challenge myself every season. I need something completely different from what I experienced at Barcelona. First of all, there is no men's club behind the women's team here. This is a female owner of the club. I am in a new league - a competitive league." most - this means I can push myself to the limit.

Many people say this is just a matter of money, but it's not. If it was just for money, I wouldn't be here. There are many other reasons behind this decision."

She led Barcelona to their fourth Champions League title in their final season, while London City finished in sixth place in their first Women's Super League season. This is truly a significant achievement for London City to convince Putellas to join, when the club is showing great ambitions. Michele Kang said: "This is definitely a transformational opportunity and a breakthrough for a team like London City. It means a lot to us. I think this will help the club move to the next level. The arrival of Alexia and others will help increase the competitiveness. The fans love competitive matches and great players, and that is what I am trying to bring not only to London City Lionesses but also to Women's Super League. It's our way to make a difference for women's sports. I believe this will be an important event."

Putellas scored 232 goals in 507 appearances for Barcelona, ​​ranking second on the club's list of most appearances. She won the World Cup with Spain in 2023 and was a member of the team that was defeated by England in the Euro 2025 final. Putellas was ruled out of Euro 2022 due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury and returned at the end of the following season. After returning to full fitness, she showed excellent form, which saw her win two consecutive Ballon d'Or awards in 2021 and 2022. She joined London City as the club's highest-paid player, after letting her contract with Barcelona expire.

The announcement was held at the W Hotel in Union Square, New York, and streamed live for maximum attention. This event was organized in a sophisticated way, aiming to affirm the image that women's football is entering a new era. About three dozen investors, influencers and media representatives were present at the event, which featured grand marble columns, golden lamps and luxurious furniture. Before Putellas was introduced, an impressive video was shown in which she declared: "The future belongs to those willing to build it" and that all eyes are now on London City Lionesses - "a club that believes the best is still ahead".

Kang also participated in a discussion and answered questions from the audience. Kang's company logo, Kynisca, appeared throughout the event - on the stage, photo backdrops, gift bags and even on cookies alongside a range of sweet treats at the coffee bar. This is a reminder of the huge investment Kang made to sign one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, as well as with the ambitious project not only at London City Lionesses but also at Washington Spirit and OL Lyonnes. She told the crowd that the sport can stand on its own feet and does not need validation from the men's league - a sentiment with which Putellas also agreed. When asked how she convinced Putellas to join, Kang said: "Honestly, it didn't take long. We had similar passions and visions for women's sport. She had won everything and needed a new challenge. She felt, as one of the greatest players, that she had a lot to contribute to this project. This is a completely independent team just for women. It was a genuine attention and focus. She really liked the idea. Mentally, going from a Champions League winner and where she won the Ballon d'Or, to a team that is only in its second season in the WSL couldn't have been an easy decision, so I'm very grateful to her for that."

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has Alexia Putellas signed with?

Alexia Putellas has signed a contract with London City Lionesses.

How long is Alexia Putellas's contract with London City Lionesses?

Alexia Putellas' contract with London City Lionesses lasts three years.

Which club did Putellas play for before joining London City Lionesses?

Before joining London City Lionesses, Putellas played for Barcelona for 14 years.

How many titles has Putellas won with Barcelona?

Putellas won 38 titles with Barcelona.

Why did Alexia Putellas decide to leave Barcelona?

Putellas feels this is the right time to leave and needs to challenge himself in a new environment.

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.