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🇩🇰 Denmark /Sports

Businesswoman’s London Club Takes a Lightning-Fast Run at the Top of Women’s Football

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • London City Lionesses have climbed from England’s second tier to the Women’s Super League in three years under Michele Kang’s ownership.
  • The club has signed former Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and Denmark international Janni Thomsen.
  • London City is the WSL’s only independent women’s club, and Kang is investing in new training facilities and an academy outside London.

In just three years, London City Lionesses have gone from England’s second tier to building a squad that hopes to challenge the country’s biggest women’s clubs. The rapid rise has come under American businesswoman Michele Kang, whose backing has brought a series of high-profile signings to south London.

Even though there is a lot of investment, I still feel that it is a very humble club. We know that a huge amount of work has to be done. It is not going to work from the start.

· Janni ThomsenThe Denmark international described the club’s attitude despite its rapid spending and recruitment.

This summer, the club recruited former Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas along with Denmark international full-back Janni Thomsen. Thomsen said the spending had not changed the team’s attitude. “Even though there is a lot of investment, I still feel that it is a very humble club. We know that a huge amount of work has to be done. It is not going to work from the start,” she said.

The ambition, however, is unmistakable. “There is no doubt what the dream is. To be the best club in England. It is a lot of pressure, but it is also exciting to be at a club with that ambition,” Thomsen said.

There is no doubt what the dream is. To be the best club in England. It is a lot of pressure, but it is also exciting to be at a club with that ambition.

· Janni ThomsenThomsen outlined London City’s ambition after joining the club.

Founded in 2019 after splitting from Millwall, London City is the only one of the 12 WSL clubs that does not belong to a football organization with a men’s team. Last season, Manchester City won the league ahead of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. London City’s independence fits Kang’s stated aim of showing that women’s clubs can become successful investments without relying on a men’s side.

That is also, in a way, what we need in women’s football.

· Janni ThomsenShe welcomed Michele Kang’s effort to build an independent women’s football model.

Thomsen said women’s football needs clubs willing to lead the way and prove that the sport can “create its own product.” London City currently attracts about 5,000 fans to home matches at Hayes Lane in Bromley, which it shares with men’s club Bromley FC. Its players train about 40 minutes away at Cobdown Park, where Kang has bought 11 hectares for Premier League-standard facilities and an academy. Through Kynisca, she also owns Washington Spirit in the United States and Lyon in France, and previously donated $30 million to the U.S. Soccer Federation for women’s football development.

create its own product

· Janni ThomsenThomsen said women’s football should aim to operate independently rather than remain tied to men’s clubs.
About this summary

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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