WSL Deadline Day: London City Lionesses out to make history after stunning window

Tom Weber

• Updated: 4 Sept 2025 17:01 BST
• 5 min read

Analysis

It's Deadline Day in the Women's Super League, and the newly-promoted London City Lionesses are looking to end a historic window with a bang.

The Brombley-based side have been able to invest heavily in their squad since being acquired by Michele Kang in 2023. The American businesswoman is one of the biggest promoters of women's sport, and the London City Lionesses are seeking to establish a foothold in the top flight with her backing.

Over the past year, illustrious names such as Kosovare Asllani, Sofia Jakobsson, Saki Kumagai, and Elena Linari have been signed, helping the Lionesses achieve promotion.

These acquisitions were only the start. When Asllani was signed, it was described as a 'statement of intent,' and similar deals have followed. This summer, the WSL's only independent women's team have enjoyed a quite remarkable window.

Amazingly, the biggest deal is perhaps yet to come as the Lionesses are currently in talks with PSG to sign their captain Grace Geyoro. The French giants don't intend to sell, but the 28-year-old wants to make the move, illustrating the pull the promoted side already has.

London City Lionesses' stunning summer window

Signing Geyoro would be the icing on the cake of what has been a stunning window, although this deal could go right down to the wire. The deadline is at 11 pm UK time, and PSG continue to play hardball.

Even if the France international doesn't join, this summer will have been a historic one, with London City having just announced the signing of Barcelona youngster Lucia Corrales for a fee believed to be in the region of €500,000.

Her teammate Jana Fernandez has also joined in a €300,000 deal. Both won the Women's Champions League with the Blaugrana, Fernandez doing so on three occasions.

A familiar name has also returned to the WSL with former Arsenal fan favourite Danielle van de Donk joining the Lionesses. She won the Champions League with Lyon in 2022. Her ex-teammate Beth Mead has also been targeted, but she is set to stay with the Gunners.

England star Katie Zelem, formerly of Man Utd, and Australia international Alanna Kennedy, formerly of Man City, have both arrived from Angel City, while Euros winner Nikita Parris has joined from Brighton.

If London City can get a deal for Geyoro over the line, this window will go down as one of the most impressive the WSL has ever seen. The mission is clear: the Lionesses want to make history, as new recruit Poppy Pattinson told WSL Full-Time on Wednesday.

“We want to make history in terms of being the first women’s only club to be successful in the WSL, that’s the main headline in this,” she said, with the new season set to kick off on Friday.

WSL Deadline Day - the big storylines

The promoted outfit aren't the only club looking to make a splash on WSL Deadline Day. Perennial champions Chelsea are currently in a similar position to London City with Geyoro.

The Blues are in talks with Angel City over a deal for USWNT star Alyssa Thompson, but Sky Sports reports that this one could go down to the wire, too.

Discussions between the clubs are still ongoing over a fee that is expected to exceed the €1 million mark, although it is not yet clear if it will be a new world record.

Meanwhile, long-serving Arsenal midfielder Lia Walti has completed a move to Juventus. Man Utd midfielder Grace Clinton is joining rivals Man City, while Jess Park is heading in the other direction.

Leicester City have completed the signing of veteran Australia international Emily van Egmond, while Liverpool have brought in Barcelona midfielder Emilia Szymczak and Swedish forward Beata Olsson today. Brighton have added young Urawa Reds midfielder Fuka Tsunoda.

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