London City Lionesses have brought in eight new signings, including two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, as owner Michele Kang pushes the WSL debutants towards the top of the league. The recruitment drive is a statement of intent after the club finished sixth in their first WSL season, and it follows Kang's swift removal of manager Jocelyn Prêcheur in December despite a strong start, replacing him with Eder Maestre, signalling that heavy investment comes with high expectations and little patience for underperformance.

Alongside Putellas from Barcelona, London City have signed Mary Earps from Paris Saint-Germain, Mapi León also from Barcelona, and Kadidiatou Diani from Lyonnes, while German forward Nicole Anyomi arrives as a lower-profile addition after scoring 60 goals in 130 games for Frankfurt. The club posted a £10.6m operating loss in 2024-25 against revenue of just £902,000, and faces challenges including a leaky defence last season, a small 5,150-capacity stadium at Hayes Lane, and the need to build a fanbase without a men's club to draw on. Guardian writers predict the club will finish fourth this season.