Alexia’s impact in the WSL reaches beyond the pitch

“Alexia is revolutionising the WSL; she has six times as many followers as the Liga.” The remark points to the scale of attention the player is attracting in England, as her arrival at London City brings new interest to the club. Alexia Putellas, a recent winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or, has 3.7 million Instagram followers — more than six times the number on the official Women's Super League account.

That interest is visible at the stadium too. Before London played reigning champions Manchester City, Putellas’s Ballon d’Or was displayed to supporters. Fans were invited to queue for photographs with the trophy, and some arrived three hours before the match. London City’s average attendance has risen by more than 1,000 compared with the previous season, according to a remark reported in connection with the trophy display.

The response goes beyond curiosity about a high-profile arrival. A British media outlet reported that Alexia’s signing had brought a large wave of new supporters to Bromley. The club is also third in the WSL after eight matches, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham behind them in the table. A Champions League qualification at the end of the season is described as a possibility, not an outcome already secured.

The player’s recent path helps explain the significance of the move. Aged 32, she joined London City in July after 14 years at FC Barcelona. She left the club she held dear after winning the European title. Her arrival in the WSL was described in England as “surprising”, since London City had joined the competition the previous year.

The club, owned by entrepreneur Michele Kang, has the ambition of becoming a leading force. Alexia’s arrival is presented as a means of advancing that ambition, with her presence associated with exceptional charisma in the WSL. The signs of her impact discussed around the player therefore extend beyond her personal profile, from online following to new supporters and higher attendance.