Why Putellas to London City would be biggest signing in WSL history

Alexia Putellas was interviewed on the Camp Nou pitch as part of a farewell ceremony on Wednesday

The number of trophies on the Barcelona pitch said it all.

During 14 years at the Catalan giants, Alexia Putellas has won 38, and for a special farewell ceremony on Wednesday, the club put them all on display.

Having announced her impending exit on Tuesday, sources confirmed to BBC Sport that Women's Super League side London City Lionesses are confident of striking a deal for the two-time Ballon d'Or winner.

The 32-year-old is yet to confirm her next move and clubs in the United States have also been jostling for her signature.

If she does opt for London City owner Michelle Kang's project, it would be the biggest signing in WSL history.

But why would one of the best female players ever exchange the Camp Nou for the new campers pitching up among the WSL status quo?

And what message would it send to the rest of the women's game?

London City pursuing Putellas after Barca exit

In 2021 and 2022, Putellas became the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or in consecutive years after helping Barcelona to their maiden continental treble.

Her star has not fallen. Last Saturday, she led her team to a dominant 4-0 victory over Lyon in Oslo for her fourth Champions League title.

Her status at Barcelona is illustrated by the tributes that poured in - with interim president Rafael Yuste declaring he "loves her from the bottom of his heart" and club legends Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets among those sending messages.

"Alexia is more than a footballer here," explained Spanish journalist Irati Vidal. "She has become the image of women's football and made kids believe they can be a girl and also be a footballer."

Indeed, in Vidal's eyes, Putellas' farewell ceremony topped that of another former Barcelona icon.

"They opened the Camp Nou for Alexia," she said. "For Lionel Messi, they just had a room - and this was more emotional."

Even though Putellas is now 32, and has suffered a number of injuries including an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in July 2022, England's all-time top goalscorer Ellen White believes she is still improving.

"I think she is getting better and better," White told the Women's Football Weekly. "Potentially she is in her prime now, even better than when she won the Ballon d'Or."

Putellas herself believes she has plenty left to offer.

"I always said I wanted my final moment to come while I was at my very best," she said on her farewell Instagram post. "It has been a perfect story."

At her best, she walks into any team in world football.

On the eve of the 2025-26 season, promoted London City chief executive Martin Semmens told the BBC their aim was to be "disruptive", adding success was "not a 10-year project" but one to be carried out swiftly.

Now, after a mid-table finish in their first WSL campaign, that mission is gathering pace.

If Putellas were to sign, she would join an enclave of Spanish speakers at the Lionesses, including boss Eder Maestre and a trio already poached from Barcelona: full-back Jana Fernandez, midfielder Maria Perez and talented young striker Lucia Corrales.

Owner Kang faces challenges though, particularly given recent comments by Uefa's head of women's football Nadine Kessler that clubs with the same owners will be strictly prohibited from playing together in the Champions League.

However, adding Putellas to her upwardly mobile London City squad would certainly shorten the odds on them achieving European football soon.