The London City Lionesses are positioning themselves to secure the services of Alexia Putelas, with the innovative midfielder evaluating multiple offers following her recent announcement of departure from Barcelona, sources have informed ESPN.
Officials from London City have indicated that negotiations with the two-time Ballon d’Or winner are ongoing, but no agreement has been finalized as of yet.
A close source revealed that Putelas is also considering offers from two other clubs, including a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and a club in Mexico. The source emphasized that Putelas is open to exploring any additional offers and stresses the importance of making an informed decision after her 14-year tenure with Barça.
Currently on international duty with Spain, Putelas showcased her skills by scoring twice in a decisive 4-0 victory over England. She aims to contribute further in Tuesday’s matchup against Iceland, which could secure a spot for La Roja in next summer’s World Cup set to take place in Brazil.
Following this series of international matches, sources indicate that she will take some time to carefully evaluate the offers before making a definitive choice for her next career move.
In related news, London City has already secured an agreement to sign Barça defender Mapi León as a free agent this summer after the completion of her contract with the Catalan club, according to ESPN sources.
Adding Putelas to their roster would signify a substantial statement for a team that was promoted to the Women’s Super League (WSL) just over a year ago and finished sixth in their inaugural season in the top division.
Michel Can, the owner of London City, frequently looks to Barcelona for talent to enhance his teams, having previously hired coach Jonathan Giraldes for both Washington Spirit and OL Lyon. Former Barça sporting director Markel Zubizarreta has also been appointed as the global sporting director for Kiniska, the organization that oversees Can’s teams.
After being promoted in 2025, London City also brought in players Yana Fernandes and Lucía Corrales from Barça. However, the signings of León and potentially Putelas are expected to be more pivotal for the team’s ongoing growth.
Putelas confirmed her departure from Barça at the end of May after playing a crucial role in the team’s latest triumph, securing their fourth Champions League title with a 4-0 victory over Lyon in the finals held in Oslo.
Her influence has proven indispensable for Barça, which has dominated European football for more than seven years, amassing an impressive total of 38 trophies, including 10 Liga titles and four Champions League titles.
As Barça’s all-time leading scorer with 232 goals, Putelas ranks as the second-highest scorer across both the men’s and women’s teams, trailing only Lionel Messi (672 goals). Her remarkable performances earned her the distinguished Ballon d’Or titles in 2021 and 2022, along with the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year accolade in the same years, and contributing to Spain’s victory in the World Cup in 2023.
