News Focus
- England defender Lucy Bronze states the Women’s Super League (WSL) holds an advantage over rival European leagues.
- Barcelona stars Mapi Leon and Alexia Putellas are set to move to London City Lionesses.
- Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey praises English football culture after her move from Spain.
- England face Spain in a crucial Women’s World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.
- Only the group winner gains automatic entry to the 2027 World Cup finals.
England defender Lucy Bronze says the Women’s Super League is now the top choice for the best players in Europe. She believes the English league improves every season.
Several famous stars from Barcelona are moving to England this summer. Mapi Leon left the Spanish club after nine years. She has agreed to join London City Lionesses. Alexia Putellas, who won the Ballon d’Or twice, is also leaving Barcelona. She may join the same London club.
This follows other Spanish players who moved recently. Mariona Caldentey joined Arsenal last year. Lucia Corrales and Jana Fernandez also moved to London City Lionesses.
Bronze said many European players now choose England. She thinks the Spanish players are coming more often now. “The WSL is one of the biggest leagues in the world,” said Bronze. “It has strong business support. Big clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal attract players.”
She added that the competition is very strong. Players want to win trophies. The league gets better every season. The success of the Lionesses helps this growth.
Mariona Caldentey moved from Barcelona to Arsenal in 2024. She said she loves playing in England. “When England won the Euros in 2022, everything changed,” said Caldentey. “The league does excellent work. Players see the high level and strong competition. We play in large stadiums with many fans. People follow women’s football here. The culture is amazing. I understand why players want this experience.”
England will play Spain on Friday night. The match is in Mallorca. It starts at 8:00 PM UK time. England need a win or a draw to reach the 2027 World Cup. They will play Ukraine on Tuesday to finish the qualifying games.
Sarina Wiegman’s team has won all four games so far. They have three points more than Spain in the group table.
Bronze spoke about the rivalry with Spain. She said Spain helps England play better. “Spain is a great opponent,” said Bronze. “We make each other better. This helps European football. It is a fun rivalry.”
Spain must win by more than one goal to take control. Only the top team in the group goes directly to the World Cup. Other teams go to play-off games.
Caldentey talked about England’s strengths. She said they are a strong team. Sarina Wiegman has done good work. Players like Alessia Russo, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp can change games. “They fight from the first minute to the last,” said Caldentey.