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Is Putellas the greatest player of her generation? (4:01)
When billionaire Michele Kang acquired London City Lionesses in 2023, she made her ambitions clear: She planned to turn a then-second-tier side into the best team in England.
Backed by a significant financial investment and a revamped squad, Kang delivered on the first stage of that vision. In 2025, in the club's sixth year since its foundation in 2019, they reached the Women's Super League (WSL) for the first time, becoming the only independent club in the top flight. A respectable sixth-place finish followed, but respectability was never Kang's end goal.
This summer, London City underwent another major overhaul, making headlines with an aggressive approach to the transfer market that signaled their intention to accelerate their rise to the top. And, with five wins, one loss and one draw from their opening seven matches, the club have established themselves in the top three to justify that outlay.
Currently, LCL sit just three points behind Chelsea and Manchester City, with Chelsea ahead on goal difference, while a five-point cushion separates them from fourth-placed Manchester United. Their underlying stats are impressive, too: Their 19 goals represent the league's third-best attacking record, while their XG total of 18.56 is the second-highest, and they have created the most chances (27). They've conceded just eight times in the WSL (the second fewest), and have made the most tackles (161) and won the most duels (686).
Those numbers are in keeping with where London City see themselves, but perhaps the more pertinent question is whether they should be surprising. London City have never hidden their desire to compete for silverware and reach the Champions League, coining themselves the "disruptors."
Their first true test of that title will come on Sunday, when they welcome defending champions Manchester City to the club's Hayes Lane stadium. But can they sustain this early-season form, and could their grand ambitions lead to a genuine WSL title challenge?
The purpose-built squad is proving its worth
Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas is set to play a major role for London City Lionesses this season after joining stars like Daniëlle van de Donk at the WSL club. John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images
Even casual fans of women's football would have struggled to miss London City's transfer summer. The club made headlines with the arrival of Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas (free, from Barcelona), alongside an array of established world stars including Mapi León (free, from Barcelona), Kadidiatou Diani (£500,000, from OL Lyonnes), Mary Earps (free, from PSG), and Nicole Anyomi (free, from Eintracht Frankfurt.)
This was no ordinary recruitment drive. Off the back of a previous year that saw France forward Grace Geyoro arrive for a then-world record £1.43 million, with smart use of the free-agency market this summer, London City assembled a squad boasting World Cup, European Championship, UEFA Champions League and domestic title winners, bringing together players with proven pedigree and considerable individual quality.
Yet their recruitment has not been limited to established international stars. Homegrown talents such as Freya Godfrey and Issy Goodwin, alongside emerging prospects like Lucía Corrales, have added youth, hunger and tenacity to a squad now packed with seasoned professionals.
The result is a group whose depth may prove just as important as its star power. Their average age of 27.3 is towards the older end of the spectrum, but comparable to Arsenal (27.7) and Manchester City (26.7). They have also made extensive use of their options, fielding 21 players so far -- the same number as Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic and Liverpool. Only Arsenal (23) have used more, while Manchester United have used the fewest (17).
That depth has translated into goals from across the squad. Putellas, Diani and Daniëlle van de Donk have each scored three times, with the latter particularly noteworthy after spending much of last season sidelined through injury.
So far, it's working. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, alongside United in recent years, have come to define the WSL's elite. No club outside that quartet has qualified for the Champions League since Liverpool won the league title in 2014, but London City are chipping away at that glass ceiling.
Is Maestre the man for the job?
Eder Maestre took over in January, following the sacking of Jocelyn Precheur. Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Assembling a collection of elite individuals is one thing; turning them into a cohesive, title-challenging side is another. Questions inevitably surrounded how the new arrivals would adapt to one another and whether Eder Maestre, a relatively inexperienced manager, could mold such a star-studded squad into a genuine contender.
The early evidence suggests the Spaniard -- who coached Tenerife for a season and spent three terms as assistant coach at Real Sociedad -- is finding a way to make his squad work. He has shown a willingness to prioritize tactical fit over reputation, rotating his options and leaving high-profile names on the bench when others better suit the demands of a particular game.
Rather than simply accommodating his biggest names, he appears to be building a team in which individual quality serves a collective purpose. That distinction is crucial for a club whose summer recruitment invited questions about whether so many established players could co-exist within a coherent tactical system.
London City's results suggest those concerns have not derailed their progress. Their opening-day 2-1 victory over Manchester United offered an early indication of their ability to compete with established opposition. There was a caveat: United manager Eva Olid was less than a month into her tenure. Nevertheless, the result provided an immediate statement of intent from a side determined to translate its transfer-market ambition into results.
Their emphatic 6-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month offered further evidence of their attacking potential, exposing defensive frailties and demonstrating the damage they can inflict when their individual quality clicks collectively.
Behind the scenes, there is a sense that both the players and the backroom staff have been underestimated. Sources close to the club believe their work has not received sufficient recognition, arguing that doubts over the squad's cohesion overlook the players' adaptability and professionalism, as well as the technical capabilities of the coaching staff.
Others with close connections to the players have suggested that some concerns remain over tactical implementation, particularly following the defeat to West Ham United. Those reservations offer a reminder that impressive results do not necessarily mean every issue has been resolved. Nevertheless, London City's reported 71% win rate this season provides a compelling counterpoint to the skepticism.
The challenge now is consistency. A strong start can establish credibility, but sustaining a challenge against the WSL's best requires tactical flexibility, squad management and the ability to respond when opponents begin to adapt.
Europe is calling, but it will be more complicated for Kang
Michele Kang has big plans for the club. Harriet Lander - The FA/The FA via Getty Images