The 2026 summer window has set alarm bells ringing in Spain: Alexia Putellas and Mapi León, icons of FC Barcelona and of the national team, have one foot and a half in the Women’s Super League (WSL). After fourteen years, 507 appearances and 232 goals at Barça, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner is leaving as a free agent. And she isn’t going alone: London is buzzing at the prospect of also bringing in Mapi León, a four-time Champions League winner, and the England goalkeeper Mary Earps, another key piece of the market. Leading the operation are the ambitious London City Lionesses, a newly promoted club whose owner, the American businesswoman Michele Kang, has decided to shake up the women’s football board.
The end of a Blaugrana era
Barcelona announced in late May that Alexia Putellas would not renew her contract and that the midfielder was saying goodbye to the club where she became a legend. Since her arrival in 2012, the Catalan didn’t just rack up record numbers; she also led the modernisation of Spanish women’s football and won the hearts of several generations. Her departure leaves a void that will be hard to fill, but it also shows just how globalised the market has become: London City Lionesses, owned by the magnate Michele Kang, are ready to offer her a project worthy of her honours list.
The move can’t be understood without the context: Kang has given the English club serious financial backing and installed the Spanish coach Eder Maestre at the helm; on top of that, they already have the Catalan defender Jana Fernández and have persuaded Mapi León to join the project. All of this makes London an attractive destination for Putellas and shows that the WSL — with greater media exposure and better wages — is now a magnet for the biggest names.
Mapi León and Mary Earps: the backbone of the new project
On 2 June another blow shook the market: The Guardian revealed that London City have advanced agreements in place to sign Mapi León and Mary Earps once their contracts expire. León, who turns 31 this month, has been a vital part of Barça’s defence for nine seasons and boasts four Champions Leagues, as well as a passing range out of the back that has won over the London side. Her arrival would strengthen a back line that aims to go toe to toe with the giants of the English league.
Mary Earps’s case is similar: the 33-year-old goalkeeper, after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, wants to return to the WSL, and London City had had her near the top of their list for months. Earps is one of the most successful goalkeepers in the league; she won the Golden Glove in the 2022–23 season and helped Manchester United lift the FA Cup in 2024. Her experience and charisma wouldn’t only reinforce the goal — they would also draw in British and global fans.
Michele Kang: the magnate connecting projects
Behind these moves is Michele Kang, the owner of London City Lionesses, OL Lyonnes and Washington Spirit. Her Kynisca Sports group was recognised in January as a principal partner of the new women’s club World Cup, a sign of her growing influence. The businesswoman is investing simultaneously in three clubs that aspire to win trophies and, as FIFA explained, her stated aim is to drive women’s football through unprecedented resources. Yet her presence across competitions and her role as a sponsor raise questions about potential conflicts of interest — a debate that will only grow as her empire expands.
What does it mean for Spanish football?
That two of the biggest figures in the Spanish national team might leave for the WSL is not a defeat, but a sign of maturity. On one hand, it shows that Spanish players now have the leverage to negotiate more competitive contracts and that foreign leagues are fighting over their talent. On the other, it forces Liga F clubs to reflect on their ability to keep their stars: wages, facilities and television visibility have to grow if they want to compete with projects like London City’s.
The move of Alexia and Mapi León could also open new windows of visibility: Spanish fans will keep an eye on the WSL, and young academy players will be able to see themselves reflected in idols who succeed beyond our borders. The talent diaspora, far from subtracting, can enrich the level of the national team and foster an exchange that raises the quality of the Spanish league.
London City Lionesses have thrown down the gauntlet by signing — or trying to sign — Alexia Putellas, Mapi León and Mary Earps. With Michele Kang’s financial backing and an increasingly professional structure, the London club aims to take on Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City from their very first year in the WSL. For Spanish football, the departure of these emblematic players is a call to self-criticism and, at the same time, a source of pride: our footballers have become global role models, and their success abroad may be the best argument for continuing to invest in Liga F.
While the signings are finalised, one thing is certain: the Women’s Super League is preparing for a historic summer. And in Spain, rather than mourning the farewells, it’s time to switch on the television and follow their exploits on the other side of the English Channel.
Sources: The Guardian — Alexia’s departure · The Guardian — Earps and Mapi León · The Guardian — Michele Kang and FIFA
