LONDON (AP) — Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas joined London City Lionesses on Wednesday in a statement signing by the fast-growing English team.

The 32-year-old Putellas’ contract at Barcelona, the Spanish club where she spent 14 years and won four Women’s Champions League titles, expired at the end of June.

The Lionesses are owned by Michele Kang, who also owns OL Lyonnes — the French team that Putellas and Barcelona beat in the Champions League final on May 23.

Putellas, a World Cup winner with Spain, said the Lionesses’ “ambition and its steadfast commitment to growing as a women-only independent club resonate deeply with me.”

“I look forward to making an impact on the pitch as we challenge for titles,” she said. “Off the pitch, building on my passion for youth development, I am equally excited to work with Michele in elevating women’s football in England and on the global stage.”

The Lionesses were promoted to the Super League in 2025 and finished sixth in the 12-team division in their first season.

“Alexia Putellas embodies the pinnacle of talent, dedication, and vision in women’s football,” Kang said. “Her decision to join our independent, women-first club is a powerful endorsement of what we are building.”

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