For 14 seasons, Putellas was Barcelona’s standout star, helping the club collect an extraordinary 38 major honours, including 10 league titles and four Champions Leagues.
Her peak came in 2021 and 2022 with back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins, before an ACL injury on the eve of Euro 2022 halted her momentum.
She returned to lift the World Cup with Spain in 2023 and later featured in the side that finished runners-up to England at Euro 2025.
In essence, she had achieved everything, and sources say she felt ready for a new challenge.
With her Barcelona contract expiring, Putellas chose to move on, and she had long been drawn to the idea of playing in the WSL.
That put London City Lionesses in pole position, and they pursued her for an extended period despite competition from many of the world’s top clubs.
Offers arrived from England, Mexico and the United States, with sources close to the player saying Boston Legacy posed the toughest challenge.
However, she is believed to have admired US billionaire Kang’s ambitions for the women’s game, shaped by years of rivalry with the owner’s dominant French side, Lyon.
Putellas and Kang also forged a connection, and sources near the owner suggest a business partnership beyond her playing days is likely to form and flourish.
The Spaniard revealed on Wednesday that they first met over dinner in Miami four years ago, where they discussed their visions for the sport.
She wanted to join a club she could influence off the field as well as on it, aiming to leave a legacy that helps grow the game’s future.
She has foregone Champions League football this season—a significant decision for someone who captained Barcelona to victory in 2026.
But London City’s five-year plan targets competing for trophies, and they hope to mount a push for a European qualification spot in the WSL this season.
With a World Cup looming next year, Putellas wanted to be settled by 2027, and a three-year deal in Bromley secures that stability.