Alexia Putellas set for an exciting new chapter after leaving Barcelona confirmed
Alexia Putellas is in talks for an exciting move that could change women’s football forever after leaving Barcelona.
Putellas, 32, is a two-time Ballon d’Or Feminin winner and one of the best players ever in women’s football. She just won her fourth Champions League title with Barcelona after they beat OL Lyonnes 4-0 in Oslo on Sunday.
Her contract ends this summer, and people have been guessing for months that she might leave the club where she has had amazing success. On Tuesday, Barcelona confirmed that Putellas will leave as a free agent after 14 years at the team.
Putellas shared a simple message on Instagram about her departure: “A perfect story.”
Many clubs across Europe want to sign the Spain midfielder this summer, but it looks like one team might have the edge. BBC Sport says the Women’s Super League team London City Lionesses is ‘confident’ they can sign her, having already had many talks with her.
London City ended this season in sixth place and won’t play in European competitions, but they’ve spent a lot on new players since US billionaire Michele Kang bought the club. They even signed midfielder Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain for around £1 million, a fee once thought to be a world record.
Landing Putellas would be a huge deal not only because of her talent but also because it could start a new chapter in the WSL. Since 2017, only Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, or Manchester United have finished in the top three, and it didn’t seem like that would change—until London City joined the league last season.
While Barcelona’s men’s team hasn’t won the Champions League since 2015, the women’s team has been dominating world football recently. Though many younger players have left Barcelona over the years, the team remains a top force.
Some worried this season might be different since Barca couldn’t even field a full squad last September due to so many players leaving last year. They have promoted several players from their academy to important first-team roles and might need to do that again this summer instead of signing new players from outside.
Star right-back Ona Batlle is reportedly close to joining Arsenal, and longtime centre-back Mapi Leon will also leave. However, Barcelona will hold on to three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who signed a ‘record-breaking contract’ in 2024 to stay in Spain until 2028.