London City Lionesses Lively Transfer Window Ahead of WSL Debut
The London City Lionesses announced the signing of Alanna Kennedy and Katie Zelem earlier today. Kennedy and Zelem are the latest additions in a complete squad rebuild. The Lionesses secured promotion to the Barclays WSL last campaign after topping the FA WSL Two table. Owner Michele Kang aims to strengthen her team ahead of LCL’s first season in the top flight. The additions of Kennedy and Zelem bring the Lionesses' new player count to 14. With top-caliber talent joining, how will the team fare in its WSL debut?
London City’s ascendency started in December of 2023 when Kang bought the club. Her purchase came at a difficult time for the team, when players expressed dissatisfaction with the previous management. Kang’s goal was clear from the get-go: achieve promotion. She meticulously added two pivotal figures, Kosovare Asllani and Jocelyn Prêcheur, during the 2024 summer transfer window to bolster the squad. These additions set the principle by which the management group would forgo business.
Kang launched Kynisca Sports International, LTD. in the same summer. The new enterprise saw London City unite with Kang’s other teams, OL Lyonnes, and the Washington Spirit. This three-horse merger became the most recent example of multi-club ownership. Each club remains its own entity but shares resources to compete with other powerhouses.
To become a powerhouse, London City knew retaining top goalscorer Isobel Goodwin and Player of the Season nominee María Pérez was necessary to fight for survival. The acquisitions of WSL experienced players, such as Daniëlle van de Donk and Nikita Parris, coupled with international talent Jana Fernández and Elena Linari, further bolstered the team’s chances of staying in the WSL. The new signings bring a wealth of top-flight knowledge and can carry that mentality to their new team. Despite the skills these players possess, a completely revamped squad can affect team chemistry.
Every club goes through an adjustment period when new players join. In LCL’s case, there will be a much bigger adjustment period due to the rebuild and timing of signings. Managers prefer signings to arrive towards the beginning of the preseason to immerse them in the new system fully. Sporadic deals carve out more time to gel with an unfamiliar playing style.
The playing style of the WSL compared to the WSL Two is a significant leap. The WSL plays at a faster, more physical tempo that will punish previous habits of a slower game in the WSL Two. There’s a reason newly promoted clubs failed to remain in the WSL in consecutive seasons. Morale can quickly disappear if LCL fails to string together positive results. There is little room to figure things out or find your footing, given the small number of games in the WSL.
While it is a tall task to survive, London City does have the talent and investment to shake up the standings. The Lionesses beat FC Twente and went toe to toe with Lyon in preseason. Defensive reinforcements enable midfielders and forwards to be creative, rather than stifling their talent by sitting in a low block or "parking the bus" for the majority of the match. The best way to survive is to limit the gaping holes in the defense because a secure defense ensures chances will arise on the other end.
The London City Lionesses will survive the WSL as long as they lean on the veterans for support. Intensity and physicality must be at the forefront of their minds. They have a well-rounded squad that makes them difficult to play against. Realistically, LCL will finish mid-table or some places below that.
