In a jaw-dropping move that’s shaken up the women’s football landscape, London City Lionesses have smashed the world transfer record by securing Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €1.65 million (£1.43 million).
Grace Geyoro Joins London City Lionesses
The deal was finalized just seconds before the Women’s Super League transfer window closed at 11pm BST on Thursday evening, sources close to the deal revealed.
This blockbuster signing makes Geyoro the third player in under two months to break the women’s transfer record, a clear signal of accelerating investment in the women’s game.
A Wave of Record-Breaking Deals
- Olivia Smith set the pace in mid-July with a groundbreaking £1m transfer to Arsenal – the first ever in the women’s game to break the seven-figure mark.
- That was quickly followed by Lizbeth Ovalle’s $1.5m (£1.1m) move to Orlando Pride in the United States.
- Now, Geyoro takes the crown, as London City pushes beyond expectations.
It’s a remarkable move for the 28-year-old midfielder, who leaves PSG after years of loyal service and iconic performances.
“Paris Saint-Germain salutes Grace Geyoro’s exemplary career with the club. An iconic figure in the women’s team, she has left an indelible mark on the history of the Red and Blue. The club extends its sincere thanks and wishes her the best for the rest of her career.”
New Powerhouse Emerges in the WSL
London City Lionesses, freshly promoted to the Women’s Super League, aren’t content with just surviving in the top flight they want to dominate. And their financial backing is making that ambition look frighteningly achievable.
American owner Michele Kang, who also controls European champions OL Lyon and NWSL side Washington Spirit, has been the driving force behind the club’s spending spree.
In addition to Geyoro, the Lionesses have snapped up:
- Danielle van de Donk – Netherlands midfield maestro
- Nikita Parris – Experienced England forward
- Lucía Corrales – Rising Spanish winger, signed on Thursday for a reported €500,000
It’s the first transfer window since their promotion, and London City are already shaking up the established hierarchy of English women’s football.
A Kent-based club now rewriting football history, London City Lionesses are the WSL’s first fully independent team off the pitch and on it, they’re challenging the status quo with elite-level recruitment and fearless ambition.
Arsenal Tie Down Russo Ahead of Showdown
While all eyes were on London City, Arsenal made their own statement—securing Alessia Russo with a new long-term contract on the eve of their WSL opener against the Lionesses at the Emirates.
The 26-year-old has been a revelation since joining from Manchester United last year, scoring 36 goals in 72 matches and playing a key role in Arsenal’s domestic and European campaigns.
“Arsenal feels like home. This is such a special club, and it has felt that way to me from the moment I joined,” Russo said.
Manager Renée Slegers praised the England forward’s all-round contribution: “She’s a selfless player, working so hard for the team, and she also contributes so much to our team culture.”
Russo’s Golden Boot-winning strike last campaign, alongside Man City’s Khadija Shaw (12 goals apiece), solidified her position among the WSL’s top-tier players, and she received the Football Writers’ Association’s Women’s Footballer of the Year award, to go alongside a Ballon d’Or nomination.
As the season kicks off, the real test begins. Can London City Lionesses turn their bold signings into silverware? Or will the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea hold their ground at the top?
One thing’s certain: the WSL has never been this exciting. Stay tuned, this season’s going to be a thriller.
