Why did Putellas move from Barcelona to London City Lionesses? Two-time Ballon d’Or winner explains

Alexia Putellas spent 14 glorious years at Barcelona Femeni, winning four Champions League titles and 10 Liga F trophies, while lifting the Ballon d’Or twice.

Updated : Sep 26, 2026 18:13 IST , London - 3 MINS READ

Alexia Putellas feels London City Lionesses she was ready for a new challenge after spending more than a decade at Barcelona and winning 38 trophies with the club. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Alexia Putellas may be known as the ‘Queen’ of Spanish football but after 14 trophy-laden years at Barcelona, she decided this summer to head off in search of a new challenge.

That ambition has taken her to London City Lionesses — a new upstart seeking to shake up the order of things in the Women’s Super League.

Owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, the team is the only fully independent team in England’s top division since gaining promotion for the 2025/26 season.

Why did Puttelas leave Barcelona?

Alexia Putellas spent 14 glorious years at Barcelona Femeni, winning four Champions League titles and 10 Liga F trophies, while lifting the Ballon d’Or twice.

“I knew that if I ever had to end my time at Barca, it wouldn’t make much sense to repeat what I’d already experienced in the next chapter, mainly because it’s impossible,” Putellas told AFP in an interview.

“It had to be something completely different. It’s practically a brand-new club, with everything yet to be written, so I’m trying to bring that winning culture and mentality with me.”

Beyond having to adapt to less grandiose surroundings than she enjoyed at Barcelona, as well as to life in a new country, Putellas must also get used to watching the Champions League -- a competition she has won four times -- rather than playing in it, for this season at least.

She admitted that “it’s a slightly strange situation”, but one that is inevitable as “part of a complete turnaround”.

“I already knew when I chose this project that I wouldn’t be in the competition this year,” she said. “But my last memory is perfect: lifting the trophy, being available for every match, maintaining consistency even in difficult moments. It was incredibly rewarding to finish that way.”

Eyes set on the Women’s World Cup 2027

However, Putellas pointed to a silver lining in that particular cloud.

Playing fewer matches this season will mean she can be fresher going into next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, where Spain will seek to defend its title.

“I try to make decisions by taking everything into account, and that was one of the factors I considered,” she revealed.

“There’s still a long way to go and my focus is on the day-to-day, but I also think that these situations are what will prepare me to give my best throughout the year so that, if the coach (Sonia Bermudez) sees fit, I can be in Brazil.

“And once there, to repeat what we did in 2023,” she added.

Putellas for Ballon d’Or?

After winning the Spanish league and Champions League last season, Putellas is many pundits’ favourite to win the Ballon d’Or at next month’s ceremony in London.

She won the award twice in a row in 2021 and 2022, before her former Barca teammate Aitana Bonmatí secured the next three.

However, Putellas insists that for her it is “not a question of winning it back; I’ve never felt it was mine in the first place”.

Instead, after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which caused her to miss Euro 2022, she said she is proud to be back in the conversation as the world’s best player.

(With inputs from AFP)

Published on Sep 26, 2026

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