Why Alexia Putellas’ arrival is the biggest WSL signing yet

Alexia Putellas, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner, walked into a hotel in Maidstone on her first English media day after signing for London City Lionesses, a move billed as the biggest signing in Women’s Super League history.

The Spanish superstar’s arrival was framed as an "Unmasking" of London City’s newest star, drawing every seat in the room. Journalists crowded the room, and Putellas greeted them with a surprised "Woah" as she opened the door. The moment was captured by Getty, with ImagesByEmma and SandersBBC credited for the photographs, and the coverage appeared in Sport.

In Spain she is nicknamed Le Reina – the queen – a title that suggests she is accustomed to attention, yet she admitted the press conference felt overwhelming. The reference to Reina highlights the cultural weight of her reputation.

Putellas captained Barcelona to a fourth Women’s Champions League title in May and lifted the World Cup with Spain, cementing her status in Spanish football. Her career includes 38 trophies, 10 league titles and four European cups.

She left Champions League football to join the independent, women-only London City Lionesses, an English club still in its infancy. The move required her to adapt her mentality to a new project while remaining 100% committed.

Born in Mollet del Valles, Catalonia, she grew up watching games at the Nou Camp and cited Andrés Iniesta, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho as inspirations. As a child she attended Xavi’s summer camps, played for local side CE Sabadell and spent a year at La Masia before her girls’ team was disbanded.

Speaking to the BBC, Putellas recalled that football was the typical sport in Spain but not for women, noting she simply had a ball at her feet all the time. She emphasized that today the sport is open to women, a shift she has lived through.

Her trophy cabinet includes back-to-back Ballon d’Or crowns in 2021 and 2022, and she is a favourite to win the award again this year. Internationally she helped Spain win the 2023 World Cup and finish runners-up at Euro 2025.

Putellas is already immersed in English life, searching for an apartment, learning to drive in London traffic and trying an English breakfast (though she dislikes baked beans). She looks forward to the season opener on 4 September against Manchester United, confident she can help London City Lionesses find new limits.

Her manager, Eder Maestre, described her as a secondary coach on the training pitch, capable of influencing the team’s play with her football language. He praised her ability to convey tactical messages through simple passes.

Beyond the pitch, Putellas boasts 3.4 million Instagram followers, a mural in her hometown and a custom gold crown from Nike after her second Ballon d’Or. She remains modest, insisting she never felt she wore a crown, just a media label.

As September approaches, the debut of the Spanish legend for London City Lionesses is set to attract worldwide attention, marking a new chapter for both player and club.