London City pursuing Putellas after Barca exit

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas has announced she is leaving Barcelona after 14 years, with London City Lionesses in pursuit.

The 32-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest female footballers of all time, captained Barcelona to the Champions League title on Saturday.

It was her fourth European crown with the club, winning 38 trophies in total, including 10 league titles.

The midfielder scored a club record 232 goals in 507 appearances, and is second on the all-time appearance list - just nine behind Melanie Serrano on 516.

Sources close to London City Lionesses, who finished sixth in their debut season in the Women's Super League, say there is confidence they can strike a deal to bring Putellas to the club this summer. They have been in discussions with her for several months.

Putellas won the World Cup with Spain in 2023 and was part of the squad that finished runners-up to England at Euro 2025.

She was ruled out of Euro 2022 on the eve of the tournament with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and returned at the end of the following season.

Since her return to full fitness, Putellas has shown the types of performances that earned her back-to-back Ballon d'Or accolades in 2021 and 2022.

She leaves Barcelona as a legend of the club and it marks the end of a significant era for Pere Romeu's side.

"I said I wanted the final moment to come when I was at my best, giving everything and with 100 percent energy," Putellas said on Instagram.

"That's it, now it's time. It has been a perfect story...

"[At six years old] I only saw men playing in the stadium and it would never have occurred to me that one day, in that very same place, more than 90,000 cules [Barcelona fans] would be shouting my name.

"We have taken the women's team further than we ever could have imagined."

London City are attempting to pull off the biggest transfer in WSL history as they chase the two-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Whether other clubs are also in discussions is unclear, but London City have been linked with a move for Putellas for some time and are the favourites to bring her in.

They are willing to pull out all the stops to boost their ranks, including offering her wages that would reflect her status as one of the greatest players in history.

They have been braced for a big summer, starting conversations with several players in January, with the view to boosting the squad at the end of the season.

London City have ambitions of breaking into the WSL's top three and qualifying for the Champions League in the not-too-distant future, and a signing like Putellas would be a huge step towards that.

Putellas, who has just lifted the Champions League trophy, is also the blockbuster name billionaire owner Michele Kang craves.

Kang also owns Lyon, who Barcelona beat in Saturday's final, and will know all too well what qualities Putellas possesses and the heights she can help London City reach.

This year's WSL newcomers are not your average club - an independent outfit, backed by seemingly unlimited funds from Kang and a desire to grow a women's football team from scratch. That makes them an intriguing project.

With Spanish coach Eder Maestre at the helm, close friend Jana Fernandez thriving there, and Barcelona team-mate Mapi Leon also expected to join London City, there are draws for Putellas.

However, going from her childhood club, who she has just captained to her fourth European title, to a team who finished mid-table in the WSL this season would be a drop down.

It further highlights the draw of the WSL and its rapid growth as more of the world’s best players view England as a strong league.

Putellas is a player every club in the world would want to sign - so it would be a remarkable achievement if London City can pull it off.

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed