The commuters outside Bromley South train station were oblivious to the fact that a global superstar was playing in their backyard. No one knew who the two-time Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Alexia Putellas was. “I can’t believe she’s playing here!” said one local. “Not for Bromley, though?”
No, not for the English Football League’s men’s third-tier side Bromley — although they do share their 5,500-capacity stadium with Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses.
Walk down the high street in the southeastern suburb of London, 10 miles (16km) from the capital’s centre, and you would have no idea London City were due to kickstart the 2026-2027 WSL season at a sold-out Copperjax Community Stadium with a game against Manchester United on Friday night. There was no advertising in sight.
But as soon as London City had announced Putellas’ transfer this summer following her departure from Barcelona, fans across the globe committed to travelling to this little-known town. Supporters can access the ground along a public footpath, passing a sixth form college, a Nuffield Health centre and some piebald ponies in a grass-deprived paddock.
Nisha Takhar, 30, landed in London from Vancouver, Canada, on Friday morning and went straight to an Adidas store to buy a Spain shirt with the name “Alexia” on the back.
“I’m a big fan, I have been for a long time and I never got to see her play at Barcelona,” she tells The Athletic.
Standing pitchside, metres from their idol, Takhar met similarly enthusiastic Putellas fans, sporting the No 11’s Spain shirt. Monika Zimmermanova, 31, had travelled from Slovakia, Agnes Kyjovska, 28, from the Czech Republic, and Urszula Albrecht, 46, from Poland. Mariana Tachava, 43, a Barcelona fan from the United States, had always wanted to come to London to watch women’s football and Putellas’ arrival in the WSL persuaded her to make the trip.
Likewise, Ria McRobbie, who had previously followed Manchester City but had been intrigued by London City’s project. Putellas’ move convinced her to trek over 550 miles from Aberdeen. “Why not?” she said.
From left to right: fans Nisha Takhar, Monika Zimmermanova, Agnes Kyjovska and Urszula Albrecht hold up a sign reading: “1,200km for you, Alexia” (Charlotte Harpur/The Athletic)
Despite arriving later than some of her compatriots, Putellas is the figurehead leading a Spanish influence at London City. Fan Carol Escuder, 22, flew from Valencia to Bromley last year to watch Spain international Jana Fernandez, but now that the team have Putellas and Mapi Leon on their books, there is an even greater pull.
The question is whether London City can attract a regular local fanbase.
The WSL have also collaborated with Putellas to maximise their audience reach. Her agency, Team YouFirst, became an official broadcaster in Spain, exclusively showing, with Spanish commentary, one game per week in Spain on the player’s new YouTube channel ElevenTV. Negotiations are ongoing over the expansion to cover more WSL games in Spanish in Latin American countries.
Lucy Merrick and Ria McRobbie, left to right, from Aberdeen, Scotland (Charlotte Harpur/The Athletic)
According to sources close to the player, speaking anonymously to protect relations, the 32-year-old is, so far, happy with her experience, the team’s structure, the quality of the training sessions, and the fact that, as an independent club, everyone is focused on making London City the best it can be.
Putellas’ family, wearing the club’s shirts, had flown in from Barcelona while Markel Zubizarreta, former head of Barcelona women from 2015 to 2023 and now the global sporting director of Kynisca, the organisation founded by London City owner Michele Kang, was also present.
Zubizarreta and London City general manager Gonzalo Rodriguez Garcia, Barcelona’s team manager from 2018 to 2021, were instrumental in her transfer.
Mariana Tachava, a Barcelona fan from the United States, pictured on Bromley High Street (Charlotte Harpur/The Athletic)
Putellas’ team-mates elected her as captain and her pre-match speech, according to team-mate Delphine Cascarino, went something like: “We worked a lot during the pre-season. Now we have to make the team proud. We have to win every game, especially at home. It’s really important to gain three points tonight.”
“She gave us a really good energy to start the game,” said Cascarino.
During London City’s 2-1 season-opening victory, Putellas dictated her team’s tempo, slowing down or speeding up play when needed. Intelligent with her movement and always thinking a few steps ahead, she drifted from one side to the other and helped dominate the left flank. London City looked in control throughout.
“I’m the player who thinks the ball always moves faster than the legs, so we’re going to try to improve that kind of thing,” Putellas told the BBC after the match.
After London City doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Danielle van de Donk’s deft flick, head coach Eder Maestre substituted his captain. United scored a late consolation goal to make it 2-1 but the job was done.
London City registered a record home attendance of 5,204, to which United fans sang: “You’ve only come to see United”. The chant: “You’ve only come to see Putellas” would ring truer for a section of the fan base.
“It’s not only the things she’s capable of doing; it’s the things she can facilitate for others,” said Maestre in his post-match press conference, conducted in the club bar. “She represents the highest standards.”
The former Barcelona captain is the poster girl for London City and has boosted the value of the club’s sponsorship deals, such as their historic front-of-shirt deal with Nike.
The four-time Champions League winner believes in owner Kang’s long-term vision and living in central London allows her to build her broader brand too. When Kang walked past in silver heels, white trousers and London City’s turquoise shirt, fans cheered. The American billionaire businesswoman took selfies with supporters before taking her seat next to FIFA’s chief football officer Jill Ellis.
“Everything is new for me,” Putellas said via the BBC. “But it’s a kind of challenge and seeing where my limits are. My main aim is to be the best I can and put that (into) the team.“
From Barcelona to Bromley, the visual contradictions between the women’s game’s most high-profile player and her new home beggar belief. But London City are on a mission — and Putellas is at the heart of it, on and off the pitch.