Exclusive Interview: Alexia Putellas on Fresh Starts, A New League, and Finding Her Feet in London

Sophie Hurst
Aug 9
6 min read

For over a decade, Alexia Putellas was the undeniable heartbeat of Barcelona. A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, World Cup winner, and multi-time UWCL champion, she had won everything there was to win in Catalonia. She had reached a point in her career where she could have comfortably stayed put, enjoyed her status as footballing royalty - publicly acclaimed La Reina - and rode the wave of her well established legacy.

Instead, she packed her bags for England and signed for London City Lionesses, a move that has marked its place in the history books before the season has even begun. Sitting down ahead of her WSL debut, Alexia didn't look like a player who had just left her comfort zone, but someone who couldn't wait to test her limits all over again.

Taking on the Unknown

Having essentially completed club football at Barcelona, it was clear Putellas craved a fresh challenge. At this point in her career, stepping away from her childhood club wasn't just about her own ambition, but it was also about making way for the next generation of younger talent coming through at Barca, while taking her wealth of experience and phenomenal skill set overseas to the WSL.

Plus, the timing couldn't be better ahead of the upcoming World Cup, which is shaping up to be the biggest women's sporting event in history. To put your best foot forward for a major international tournament - especially for a nation looking to retain their title - playing in a league as relentlessly competitive as the WSL is a massive advantage.

While playing for a powerhouse like Barcelona brings guaranteed silverware, Liga F's overall standard - largely due to a lack of broad infrastructural investment across the league - means many domestic games feel decided before a ball is even kicked. The WSL offers something completely unpredictable, physical, and tough every single weekend. For Alexia, joining London City Lionesses was a deliberate choice to force herself out of her comfort zone to ensure she keeps improving as a player.

"I feel like it was the moment for a change and for accepting a new challenge," she explained. "The main reason is just to be better - in football terms and in personal terms. I really believe moving to England can give me something more. The way I control low defensive blocks, I used to do that in Spain and I already control that. I wanted a different kind of game."

She knows adapting won't happen overnight. Joining a completely new league with different tactical demands means starting from scratch in ways she hasn't had to in years.

"It will be different for sure, but that’s why I’m here. I’m looking forward to improving as a footballer and as a person, to becoming a more complete player. I want to play with and against different players and find where my limits are. It will take time because it’s a big change for me, but I’m so excited."

"They Told Me They're Gonna Kick Me"... Embracing the Chaos

Putellas isn't the only player ready to make waves in England, she’s part of an unstoppable trend of top-tier Spanish talent heading to the WSL. From former Barcelona teammates who made the move in earlier seasons like Keira Walsh, Lucy Bronze, Mariona Caldentey, and Jana Fernández, to players who have fledged the Spanish league in the same window like Ona Batlle and Mapi León, the league has become a magnetic hub for world-class talent.

In Spain, football is a game of patience, chess-like positioning, and precision passing. In the WSL, games are fast, physical, and often devolve into unpredictable, end-to-end chaos. When Putellas reached out to her former Barcelona and Spain teammates already playing in England - checking in with players like Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze before making the jump - they didn't hold back on the warning labels.

"Some of them told me that it's a hard league and they're gonna kick me!" Alexia joked with a laugh. "Well, no problem - I try to be ready for that! But really, they just told me to enjoy it because the games are crazy. Even when you go to away games, it’s something special, something different. I’m ready to enjoy all of that."

Rather than being intimidated by the frantic pace of the English game, the pure unpredictability of the league and the concentration of familiar Spanish faces across opposing team sheets is actually what drew her in.

"In my opinion, you never know what the result of a game will be here," she said. "Every week is super competitive. All the games push you to your absolute limit, and that makes it such an entertaining league for the fans. Here, the spaces are bigger, it’s box-to-box, and I want to learn from every single situation."

When asked about stepping out against unfamiliar teams and taking to new turf across the country, Putellas admitted that playing away in England’s iconic grounds is one of the most exciting prospects of the move.

"All of them are new for me in this competition," she shared when asked which stadiums or opponents she has her eye on. "I’m really looking forward to playing our first game at home, but then also playing away and seeing what it's like playing in the big stadiums of England - just enjoying that part of football as well."

Bringing a Winning Mentality

London City Lionesses may be on a different stage of their journey compared to a club like Barcelona, but Putellas isn't lowering her standards for anyone. Working under a Spanish head coach, Eder Maestre, whose football philosophy aligns closely with her own, she is focused on bringing her relentless drive to the dressing room.

"My mentality and the moment of the project can live together," she stated firmly. "I’m going to bring whatever the project needs from me. I'm 100% committed, I'm hungry for winning, and I'm hungry to fight with my teammates for victory every single day."

Photo Credit - via @LondonCityLionesses

When asked what targets or expectations she has set for her first season in England, Putellas is going to let the performances do the talking.

"To be honest, I don't have expectations. I just want the hard work we’re doing in pre-season and during the year to speak for itself. In sport, you shouldn't live on expectations, you just put the work in and give everything. But I have a competitive mind, and I want to win every single game."

Traffic, Fry-Ups, and a Bit of Peace

Off the pitch, the process of turning London into home is well underway. Putellas has been tackling all the classic newcomer hurdles: navigating London's horrific traffic, figuring out where to do her grocery shopping, and tackling house hunting. When a journalist pointed out during her press conference that finding an apartment in London is "not cheap," Alexia laughed in instant agreement.

"Not cheap, no, not cheap!" she grinned. "Barcelona is not cheap as well! But here, everything is new to me. How do I move around? There’s a lot of traffic here! But I'm a calm person, so day after day I’m learning."

She's also been open-minded about immersing herself in British culture, including taking on the ultimate rite of passage: the full English breakfast.

"I already tried an English breakfast. Quite different!" she admitted with a smile. "Not the beans one, but yes... sausages? I’m coming with an open mind to try new things."

Photo Credit: via @laiacodina5
Photo Credit: via @marisabel_rguez
Photo Credit: via @victoriapelova

Perhaps the biggest shift for Alexia isn't the food or the weather, but the lifestyle. In Barcelona, her status as an icon meant privacy was almost non-existent. In London, she can walk down the street, grab her groceries, and enjoy a layer of anonymity she hasn't had in a long time.

"It’s very different from Barcelona, but it’s really nice," she reflected. "I’m enjoying a different kind of lifestyle here. I loved Barcelona too because I felt so much love and respect from the fans, so it's not that one place is good and the other is bad, they’re just different. I'm just really happy to be here."

A New Era Begins

Whether she’s dodging London traffic, trying local food, or preparing for physical away days, Alexia Putellas is taking on this new chapter with total intent. The surroundings might be different, but the standard remains untouched.

Fans won't have to wait long to see La Reina in action. London City Lionesses kick off the WSL season with a massive home clash against Manchester United on Friday, 4 September at 7:00 PM. Grab your tickets now to witness what promises to be an iconic debut in English football.