London City Lionesses are the Women's Super League's great unknown. A club modest in size, with flashy budgets and ambitions well beyond what would reasonably be considered possible for a side only promoted to the top flight 12 months ago. Their prospects for the upcoming season are therefore difficult to predict.
Billionaire owner Michele Kang has been clear in her intent. She wants Champions League football and has enlisted a group of megastars from across Europe to help her do it. But such a mission is far from straightforward.
It's been 12 years since any side other than Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd finished inside the top three. Since the WSL's inception, in fact, only four clubs have ever won the title. So, what makes London City Lionesses' bid any different?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player It would be unfair to reduce a club backed by a corporate giant to a counter-culture. That implies something short-lived. But it's clear Kang wants to disrupt the established order in the WSL.
Similar questions were being asked when Man City entered women's football a decade-and-a-half ago, and now they are a firm fixture of the top three. The latest champions to be crowned. Kang is trying to repeat the same success, but doing so in 2026 requires a completely different model.
Investing in star players is only part of the plan; money is being put into the training ground, youth setup and commercial arms of the club. The current clubs at the top of the pyramid will be watching to see what works and what doesn't down in Bromley. There is enough reason for the them to pay attention to developments, if not yet show major concern.
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