Who are London City Lionesses?

In 2019, London City were founded, breaking away from the Millwall Lionesses and becoming a separate, independent entity in their own right.

On gaining promotion to the WSL last year they became the only top-tier professional women’s operation not affiliated with a men’s club.

Initially though their proud independent status resulted in financial instability, that was until American businesswoman Michele Kang bought the club in 2023.

Kang’s lofty mandate is to ensure that the women’s game thrives autonomously and to that end she had already purchased a majority stake in Washington Spirit. In 2024, she became the majority owner and CEO of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, in due course changing its name to OL Lyonnes.

These three clubs fall under the umbrella of Kynisca Sports International Ltd.

With a ground-share agreement with Bromley FC in place and via serious investment in personnel the Lionesses secured promotion last summer to the WSL. A notable signing twelve months prior had been Kosovare Asllani, Sweden’s international captain who was Ballon d’Or nominated in 2019.

To lure such a big name to the second tier from AC Milan was quite a coup.

Nothing though could prepare intrigued onlookers for what was to come…

Big leap forward

Determined to make their mark in the WSL, the Lionesses wasted little time last summer in attracting a plethora of top talent.

Their defence was strengthened by the arrivals of Jana Fernàndez and Elena Linari, from Barcelona and AS Roma respectively. Former Manchester City and Arsenal striker Nikita Parris was signed. Daniëlle van de Donk transferred her class and experience to the Lionesses’ midfield.

In January, Delphine Cascarino was recruited, a winner of nine league titles with OL Lyonnes.

By the season’s end the WSL newcomers finished a very respectable sixth.

Ambition writ large

Having successfully gained a firm footing in the English top-tier, the Lionesses have once again embarked on a signing spree this summer. The difference now though is such is the high calibre of player they are bringing in it has got the whole of football talking.

It began with the signing of Mary Earps from PSG, England’s Euro-winning goalkeeper committing to a two-year deal.

A fortnight later the prolific Nicole Anyomi joined, scorer of 50 goals in 101 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Soon after, the Danish international Janni Thomsen signed up.

All three are impressive recruits but if the Lionesses are to secure higher ground a bona fide superstar was surely needed, a transfer that would make headlines around the world.

It came in the form of a two-time Ballon d’Or Féminin winner, a player widely considered one of the greatest to ever grace the women’s game.

Persuading Alexia Putellas to end a 14-year spell at Barcelona represented a seismic statement from London City, one that remarkably was doubled, then tripled down on in the days that followed with the arrivals of Mapi León – also from Barcelona – and Kadidiatou Diani from OL Lyonnes.

It means that this summer a club that is still nascent in the great scheme of things have brought in four players, with nine Ballon d’Or Féminin nominations between them.

That’s ambition writ large.

Alexia Putellas – The superstar statement

Across nearly a decade-and-a-half in Catalonia, Putellas won 38 trophies, including the Champions League on four occasions.

In 2021 and 2022, she won the Ballon d’Or Féminin back-to-back after elevating her midfield creativity to unparalleled levels. A year later, her craft and vision helped guide Spain to World Cup success.

Now 32, Putellas is clearly ready for a new and different challenge, saying on signing for the Lionesses…

“I’m hungry to win, to be better day after day, to fight with my teammates for the victory”

A genuine icon of women’s football, her wearing of the turquoise shirt is guaranteed to raise the club’s profile in addition to substantially improving performances on the pitch.

Kadidiatou Diani – The proven finisher

Nominated for a Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the former PSG and OL Lyonnes forward brings the promise of goals, having scored 114 times in the Première Ligue and 32 for her country.

As recently as 2023/24, Diani finished top goal-scorer in the Champion League, after firing eight on route to the final.

Mary Earps – The household name

With over 100 appearances for Manchester United, Earps’ displays in nets for England at the 2022 Euros ensured that her name now transcends women’s football. She was subsequently selected for the team of the tournament.

In 2023, the Nottingham-born stopper became the sixth goalkeeper to be nominated for a Ballon d’Or Féminin, in recognition of an exceptional year.

Mapi León – The serial winner  

A ball-playing centre-back, equally adept on the left, León departed Barcelona this summer a serial winner, lifting eight Primera División trophies, one with Atletico Madrid.

All told, the Spanish international made 207 appearances for the Blaugrana, establishing herself as one of the finest defenders of her generation.

In 2023, she finished 16th in the Ballon d’Or Féminin rankings.