London City Lionesses head into the 2026-27 Women's Super League season transformed, with owner Michele Kang's aggressive recruitment drive bringing a host of elite talent to Hayes Lane. The club's writers have tipped the Lionesses to finish fourth this term, an improvement on last season's sixth-place finish, though they still ended 22 points behind the top three.
Eight new players have arrived this summer as part of Kang's mission to establish London City among the WSL's elite. The headline addition is two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, whose move from Barcelona after 14 years at the Catalan giants has sent shockwaves through the division. The 32-year-old midfielder, who had numerous suitors across the globe, is seen as the clearest signal yet of Kang's ambitions.
"I'm going to bring to the project whatever the project needs from me, so I'm 100% committed. I'm hungry to win, to be better day after day, to fight with my teammates for the victory," Putellas said of her move.
She is joined by Mary Earps from Paris Saint-Germain, Mapi León from Barcelona, and Kadidiatou Diani from Lyonnes, giving London City a spine littered with proven winners. León, reflecting on the appeal of joining Kang's project, praised the owner's broader impact on the women's game. "Everything counts when you make this kind of a decision, and of course, she was an important part because seeing another woman doing so much to help women's sports and women's football grow, I think it's impossible not to value that. I think it's something very powerful," she said.
Despite the glamour of the new arrivals, London City's approach under Kang has already shown its ruthless streak. Jocelyn Prêcheur was dismissed as manager shortly before Christmas last season despite a promising start, and was replaced by Eder Maestre. The Spaniard, who previously guided UD Tenerife to sixth in Liga F, has been tasked with reshaping how the team plays and is now tied to a contract running until 2028. Even with that security, Maestre knows he cannot afford to be complacent given the scale of Kang's expectations.
One player who may fly under the radar despite the influx of superstars is German forward Nicole Anyomi. Largely unknown to English audiences, Anyomi built an impressive record in the Bundesliga, scoring 60 goals in 130 appearances for Frankfurt over five seasons, and has also earned four goals in 34 caps for Germany. She could prove to be one of the season's most productive additions.
Defensively, there is clear room for improvement. London City recorded more Opta-defined errors leading to goals than any other WSL side last season and conceded the most penalties in the division. Goalkeeper Elene Lete, who saved one penalty last term, will be hoping her teammates in front of her tighten up defensively to ease the pressure on the 24-year-old.
Off the pitch, the financial picture underscores the scale of Kang's investment. London City's 2024-25 accounts showed an operating loss of £10.6m, more than ten times their revenue of £902,000 for that period, and further spending this summer is expected to widen that gap in future filings. With no men's club fanbase to draw upon, growing support remains a key challenge, particularly as the club continues to play at the 5,150-capacity Hayes Lane in Bromley. Any move to a larger venue will depend on first expanding their supporter base, given the limited availability of suitable sites in and around London.
With Champions League qualification and a genuine title challenge among Kang's stated ambitions, this season promises to be a defining one for London City Lionesses as they attempt to translate financial firepower into on-field success.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.