By Gary Denver

(credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Founded in 2019 after breaking away from Millwall, the London City Lionesses are a fully independent, professional women’s football club based in south London. In just a few years they have risen rapidly through the English pyramid, earning promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) for the first time ahead of the 2025–26 season.

Their first ever WSL campaign has sparked major investment, and a wave of headline grabbing signings that signal their intent to compete with the league’s established giants, The headline moment came on 5 September 2025, when the club announced the arrival of French midfield star Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint Germain Féminines (PSG). The deal, reported at £1.43 million (€1.65m), instantly made Geyoro the most expensive female footballer in history, a world-record transfer fee that underscores London City’s ambitions.

Daniëlle van de Donk, a Netherlands international, arrived on a two year deal from OL Lyonnes. The Dutch midfielder said of the move: “It’s just such a nice environment to be in, the club really appeals to me … the project at London City have, it’s different but in a good way“.

With so many new faces, expectations are high. For her part, Geyoro acknowledged the significance of the move, the experienced midfielder should provide leadership and stability to the team’s core as they adjust to top flight competition. “She knows the game perfectly,” club coach Jocelyn Precheur asserted, adding that Geyoro’s presence will be “important for the balance of the squad” as London City aim to compete from day one.

As the league pauses for the Christmas break, the London City Lionesses sit an impressive sixth in the WSL, a position that reflects both their rapid growth and the impact of their high profile summer arrivals. For a club experiencing its first season in the top tier, the early signs are promising, disciplined performances, a clear tactical identity, and a squad that is beginning to gel at exactly the right time. With the second half of the campaign still to come, London City have put themselves firmly on course not only to secure safety, but to push for a top half finish, a remarkable achievement for a side that, just a few years ago, was fighting for recognition outside the spotlight. As momentum builds, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Lionesses are no longer simply newcomers, they are contenders.