1 day ago
London City Lionesses are poised to motion Mary Earps and nan Barcelona defender Mapi León connected free transfers, nan Guardian understands, aft agreements were reached for them subordinate erstwhile their contracts expire astatine nan extremity of June.
The erstwhile England goalkeeper has been keen connected a return to nan Women’s Super League aft 2 years pinch Paris Saint-Germain, and London City are understood to person identified her arsenic a cardinal summertime target months ago.
León, who will move 31 this month, has been a cardinal portion of nan Barcelona broadside that person dominated successful Europe successful caller years and is simply a four-times Champions League victor whose ball-playing expertise was a cardinal property London City person admired arsenic they effort to create an charismatic playing style. The erstwhile Atlético Madrid subordinate has been pinch Barcelona for 9 seasons.
Earps, 33, has played for Manchester United, Reading, Bristol City (then known arsenic Bristol Academy), Birmingham City and Doncaster Rovers Belles during nan WSL era, and is 1 of nan division’s astir successful goalkeepers. She won nan WSL’s Golden Glove grant for nan astir cleanable sheets during nan 2022-23 play pinch United and she helped nan nine triumph nan Women’s FA Cup successful 2024.
Earps fits nan floor plan of what London City person been looking for to effort to move to nan adjacent level, connected and disconnected nan pitch. She will adhd important top-level acquisition and it is hoped that her fame tin thief nan independent nine build their fanbase.
The club, owned by nan American businesswoman Michele Kang, person been keen to target A-list players to pull much fans but besides players who tin fortify nan squad and thief them situation for trophies, and location are precocious hopes that these additions will do that.
