Alexia Putelas has officially announced that she will part ways with Barcelona at the conclusion of the current season, marking the end of her illustrious 14-year tenure with the club.
The 32-year-old midfielder revealed on Tuesday that the upcoming La Liga match against Real Sociedad will be her final appearance in Barça colors.
While Putelas has yet to disclose her next destination, sources indicate she is drawing interest from clubs across Europe, the United States, and Mexico. Notable contenders include London City Lionesses and Paris Saint-Germain, who are closely monitoring her situation.
Putelas had an option to extend her contract with Barcelona for another year, and the club expressed willingness for her to remain. However, she has opted to seek new challenges abroad.
“It’s time to admit that I’ve given everything to these colors,” Putelas stated in a video shared across her social media platforms. “It was the perfect story.”
Putelas is not alone in her departure; several players are expected to leave Barcelona this summer. Reports indicate that defenders Mapi León and Ona Batlle are set to join London City and Arsenal, respectively, when their contracts expire next month.
Veteran Marta Torrejón is also anticipated to exit upon the conclusion of her contract, while wingers Caroline Graham-Hansen and Salma Paralluelo will need to negotiate new agreements if they wish to stay at the club.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner concluded her time at Barcelona on a high note, contributing to the team’s fourth Champions League title with a resounding 4-0 victory over OL Lyon in last weekend’s final. Her outstanding performance garnered her the Champions League Player of the Year award for the second time in her career.
This European success enabled Barcelona to secure their second quadruple in three years, having previously won Liga F, Copa de la Reina, and Spanish Supercopa earlier in the season. Putelas made a significant impact, scoring 21 goals and providing 13 assists across 42 matches in all competitions.
Having initially joined Barcelona’s youth ranks as a child, Putelas returned to the club in 2012 following stints at Espanyol and Levante. Her journey has positioned her as a pivotal figure in a team that continues to dominate European women’s football, with an impressive collection of 38 trophies, including 10 Liga titles and four Champions League victories.
As the all-time leading scorer for the women’s team with 232 goals, Putelas ranks as the second-leading scorer across both the men’s and women’s teams, trailing only Lionel Messi, who has netted 672 goals. Her remarkable performances earned her the Ballon d’Or in both 2021 and 2022, and she was named FIFA Women’s Player of the Year for the same period, culminating in her World Cup victory with Spain in 2023.
“We have evolved the women’s team more than we could have imagined,” Putelas reflected. “In the beginning, being a soccer player wasn’t even recognized as a profession. Now I feel honored to be a part of this change.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
