Alexia Putellas Chooses London City Lionesses After Leaving FC Barcelona

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas is set to join London City Lionesses after leaving FC Barcelona, with the BBC saying she has chosen the South London club over Boston Legacy in the United States.

The move follows Putellas’s 14-year spell at Barcelona, where she won 38 trophies including 10 league titles and scored a club-record 232 goals over more than 500 games, according to the Olympics report.

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BBC Sport also said sources close to Putellas told it she opted for London City Lionesses despite the final two among many vying for her signature, while the Olympics report said there is no final agreement in place.

The Olympics report placed the decision in the context of Putellas being part of Spain’s Paris 2024 football squad and helping Spain win the World Cup title in 2023, and it said she was part of their runner-up finish at the Euro 2025.

London City Lionesses, which finished sixth in their debut season in the Women’s Super League, were described as confident in adding the 32-year-old left Barcelona after 14 years earlier this year.

While Putellas’s arrival remains the headline, FotMob reported that London City Lionesses tied down Freya Godfrey with a new deal as speculation surrounding a move for Putellas mounts.

FotMob said Godfrey was the Lionesses’ leading scorer in the WSL last term, netting six goals and providing a team-high four assists, and it quoted Godfrey saying, "I've loved my time here so far."

All For XI

The BBC, meanwhile, said club sources believe there is no final agreement yet even as the Lionesses are confident of completing the deal, and it framed the situation as a transfer-market scoop for an independent club.

Mundo Deportivo reported that all signs pointed to London and said sources close to the player confirmed to the newspaper that her decision is to continue her career in the English capital, with an official announcement expected within hours.

The Olympics report added that London City Lionesses are sixth this season and remain confident in adding the two-time Ballon d'Or winner to their roster, even as it noted there is no final agreement in place.

The BBC said Putellas will join on a free having allowed her Barcelona contract to run out, and it described London City Lionesses as having offered substantial wages.

ESPN Singapore reported that Putellas’s reasoning for joining London City included a desire to stay in Europe and remain close to home as well as not competing regularly against Barcelona, while also saying London City’s owner Michele Kang has high hopes for the project.

ESPN Singapore also said London City are set to sign former Barcelona teammate defender Mapi León, and it added that Putellas’s goal is to prepare for the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic games at the highest environment while pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

Goal’s account tied the move to a desire to remain in Europe and avoid joining another continental heavyweight that would force her to compete regularly against Barcelona, and it said the deal is a direct product of London City Lionesses’ vision mapped out by Michele Kang.

Sky Sports quoted London City head coach Eder Maestre saying the club is "dreaming of the Champions League" next season, placing Putellas’s move within a push for Europe’s top competition.