To defy the Odds: Are ambitious London City Lionesses ready to push for the title?

Ambition was at the forefront of everyone’s minds in anticipation of London City Lionesses’ media day ahead of the 2026/27 Women’s Super League (WSL) season. And they were not putting it lightly. 

Fresh from winning promotion to the top flight in 2025 and becoming the first fully independent club in the WSL, London City have gone from strength to strength. Strong signings this summer transfer window propelled the Lionesses to the front of the WSL, with the club and key investor Michele Kang not afraid to splash the cash in Bromley. 

Alexia Putellas. Mapí León. Mary Earps. And this is just the beginning. 

Statement Signings, High Expectations

London City’s new signings have transformed what the club ever thought possible. Saved from liquidation in 2023 by a multi-million-pound investment from Kang, the once struggling club has become one of the most sought-after destinations for footballers globally, attracting big names to showcase their craft in London. 

Putellas has become the latest acquisition for London City as they seek to recruit beyond just superstars, bringing in homegrown players like Poppy Pattinson and Freya Godfrey to strengthen the squad and be key parts of the Lionesses machine. 

After departing Brighton and Hove Albion in July 2025, defender Pattinson has become central to London City, recently penning a new deal with the club, keeping her league pedigree, experience, match mentality and tenacity at a squad capable of reaching new heights. 

“Pattinson spoke about keeping that level of ambition and mentality as the club pushes for a Champions League place after finishing sixth in the league, following their debut season in the WSL. 

Yes, of course. The club wants to finish as high as possible. I think as individuals we have that level of ambition to ourselves to reach the highest level we can and want to keep on pushing for that. I still have a few years to develop as a player, but being part of this team is a huge ambition in itself as we push for as high as we can.”

This level of mentality was matched by Putellas, who in her signing announcement video said she was ‘prepared and ready for a new challenge’ in London after spending most of her career at FC Barcelona, where she won 38 trophies with her childhood club, including 10 Liga F titles and four European Cups.

“It’ll be different for sure. I’m looking for ways to improve myself as a person and become more of a complete player as much as I can. I’m learning new things, playing, and want to win against other players and find my limits as a footballer.”

Believed to be London City’s highest signing and one of the biggest in WSL history, only eclipsed by £500,000 paid for Kadidiatou Diani in July 2026, Putellas discussed the challenges of adapting to a new league from the intense and precise tiki-taka playstyle favoured by Barça to the physical and faster demands of the WSL. 

“It will be a big change for me. I will take time to adjust because it is a new beginning, but I’m so excited to be here and show what I am capable of.”

Known to be dominant on the pitch while in Europe, Putellas’s tempo and possession-based play in midfield and control from the Spanish league have the potential to transfer to the WSL, where London City’s style of play has suited many players since they arrived from other clubs. 

Eder Maestre’s choice to experiment with different options in training and on matchdays has proved effective with players, with the manager eager to adapt his approach before the new season.  

Putellas’s blend of competitive pedigree and experience could favour Maestre’s ability to mix veterans and youth players tactically in his matchday and training squad in the long term as the club seeks to capitalise on previous successes, with the demands of the domestic game becoming increasingly more competitive in recent years. 

And as the season approaches, there is a high expectation that both fresh signings and experienced players will have to prove themselves to justify their price tags. And as London City’s newest recruit, this is something Putellas knows all too well.  

“In the WSL, you never know what will be the result of the game. It’s a very competitive league, week after week. I imagine all the games will push you to your limits. It’s a very entertaining league.”

Welcoming new faces and racing to the top: Where do London City want to be next?

While high-profile signings such as Putellas, León and others have grabbed the headlines, London City have quietly strengthened their squad with homegrown talent, investment and fresh faces, continuing their strong momentum as they compete at the highest level of women’s football.

For returning players like Pattinson, the new season offers a valuable opportunity to establish themselves and prove their ability against some of the best in the game. In the 2025/26 season, she established herself as a regular starter in the squad, making 13 overall appearances for the club and has since become a key member of the Lionesses defence. 

“It’s a privilege to play alongside world-class players” she said when asked about the squad mentality heading into next season. 

‘The ambition of the club is huge, and you can see that in our summer signings. It’s really special, and it brings out the best in yourself; we’re there for each other every day in training. The competition is high, so it does match what we want to do. We want to climb up the table and win as much as possible’. 

She added: “We bring out the best in each other, whether that's on and off the pitch. It's a super special squad, and I think that speaks for itself on paper, but when you watch us [the season opener] against [Manchester] United in September, hopefully we can put on a show and do something special this season.”

With the WSL increasingly becoming an attractive destination for international players and one of the best leagues in the world, this statement is something Pattinson is very keen on. 

“Yes, without a doubt. We want to finish as high as possible. We talk about the league table; this is a club that is still growing, and we’re aware of that. But the ambition and the investment of the club and the team we have around us really believe that we can keep going, keep on pushing. 

For now, we concentrate on what's in front of us. We kick off the season in our home stadium, and that's special, and I think we can grow as a team. 

We can put on a show for our fans and grow that fanbase, which keeps filling out the stadium. They’re our 12th player and help us a lot, and hopefully we keep on growing the women's game in general, and hopefully one day we can keep on going with the growth.”

For a team that became independent when competing in the WSL2 and has since established itself as one of the most dynamic and exciting sides in the top flight, this fixture offers an opportunity to test themselves against one of the league’s more established sides and prove they can compete at the highest level. 

“The opening game on Friday against United is pretty special, and we’re all excited for that,’ said Pattinson. ‘We’re going to work as hard as possible and prepare for that game. Every game is exciting in this league; just being alongside top players week in and week out is exciting, but the whole club is pretty excited for what’s to come. 

We can’t wait to see the fans there. We’ll put on the best show on Friday night, and we want to make people proud and show them what we’re capable of.”

London City Lionesses kick off their WSL campaign with a home fixture against Manchester United on the 4th of September at 7 pm.