London City Lionesses have bolstered their ranks with the acquisition of four-time Champions League winner Mapi Leon, marking another major addition to Michele Kang’s ambitious project. Leon’s arrival follows the high-profile signings of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and former England goalkeeper Mary Earps, further underlining the club’s impressive summer recruitment drive.

The Spanish defender’s move to London had been widely anticipated, with her contract at Barcelona coming to an end this summer. After nine successful years in Catalonia, where she collected 24 major honours, Leon’s departure was confirmed before last season concluded. On Monday, she was officially unveiled as a London City Lionesses player.

Leon has committed to a three-year contract with the club, which is preparing for only its second campaign in the Women’s Super League (WSL) following promotion to the top division in 2025. Under the ownership of Michele Kang—who also oversees Washington Spirit and eight-time European champions Lyon—the Lionesses have seen significant investment aimed at elevating the club to elite status. This ambitious vision has already begun to attract star players like Leon, Putellas, and Earps, as the team sets its sights on its first major title and European competition qualification after securing a sixth-place finish last season.

Speaking about her decision to make the switch from Barcelona to London City, Leon shared her enthusiasm: “I’m very excited and happy to be here. It’s a fascinating and appealing project. I’ve seen the direction the club is heading in and what’s being built. After spending many years playing in Spain, I felt this was the right time to make a move, especially given the ambition of this project. The English league is playing a huge role in advancing women’s football, and I wanted to challenge myself in a new country, a new league, with a different style of football.”

She added, “What Michele Kang stands for is incredible. She’s a truly inspirational woman who is dedicated to helping women’s football flourish. I wanted to be part of something like this—a club created for women, by women. I know my teammates will help me adapt quickly, and I hope to bring my experience and leadership to support the team this season. I’m excited to work alongside head coach Eder Maestre, the coaching staff, and my new teammates.”

“My goal is to reach the highest level as quickly as possible. Every project takes time and commitment, but I still have the same drive and determination to keep winning. Hopefully, we can achieve great things together here at London City Lionesses.”

Leon’s arrival adds another layer of quality to what has already been a transformative summer for London City. Widely recognised as one of the best centre-backs in the world, the 31-year-old played a crucial role in Barcelona’s quadruple-winning campaign last season and joins the WSL side as a truly world-class addition.

She follows in the footsteps of Alexia Putellas, whose exceptional performances last year could see her claim a third Ballon d’Or, and Mary Earps, whose presence is expected to strengthen the goalkeeping department after Elene Lete endured a mixed debut season in the WSL. The club has also brought in Nicole Anyomi, who impressed at Eintracht Frankfurt with 13 goals and six assists in just 20 Bundesliga starts, adding further firepower to the attack.

Danish international Janni Thomsen has also arrived from Utah Royals, further highlighting the team’s recruitment ambitions. Meanwhile, several players have departed, including Katie Zelem, Gesa Marashi, Maddi Wilde, Julia Roddar, Cerys Brown, Lotta Lindstrom, and Teyah Goldie, the latter moving out on loan.

As London City enjoy their moment of optimism, attention now turns to Barcelona, who face the challenge of adapting to the loss of multiple key players. Leon is one of four major departures this summer, alongside Putellas, Ona Batlle, and Salma Paralluelo. Batlle has joined Arsenal, while Paralluelo is yet to confirm her next destination.

Despite these significant exits, the Blaugrana remain the reigning European champions and continue to boast an extraordinary squad. With stars such as Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati, and Ewa Pajor still part of their core group, and a thriving youth system feeding into the first team, Barcelona will remain a formidable force. However, replacing the experience and quality of players like Leon and Putellas will undoubtedly be a stern test as they look ahead to their next chapter.