London City Lionesses prepared to trigger £430,000 release clause for Barcelona talent Lucia Corrales | OneFootball

London City Lionesses are prepared to activate the £430,000 release clause of Barcelona midfielder Lucia Corrales

London City Lionesses are prepared to activate the £430,000 release clause of Barcelona midfielder Lucia Corrales as they continue shaping their squad for their debut season in the Women’s Super League.

Corrales had been expected to remain at Barcelona. She had reached an agreement to extend her contract with the Catalan club, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute when Barça pulled out citing financial reasons. It marked a sudden and surprising turn of events for the teenager, who had already rejected multiple offers from major clubs in order to pursue her dream of continuing at Barça.

The Lionesses now find themselves in pole position to secure her signature by meeting her clause in full. For a side preparing to step into England’s top division for the first time, Corrales would represent a statement signing and an important addition to their midfield.

A recent Barcelona connection

Should Corrales arrive in London, she would follow in the footsteps of Jana Fernández who made the same switch earlier this summer. The defender joined after her £170,000 release clause was paid, giving the newly promoted side an early taste of Barça’s talent pipeline.

Meanwhile, Barcelona face the challenge of replacing Corrales should she depart. The Spanish champions have until September 19 to do so, though indications suggest they are content to rely on the depth of their academy rather than make an external signing. Promoting homegrown players into the senior squad has long been a hallmark of their approach and it appears that will remain the case.

Sangaré joins on loan

London City have not limited their summer business to Barcelona talent. The club also confirmed the loan signing of Wassa Sangaré from Lyon. The 19-year-old defender progressed through Lyon’s academy before making her way into France’s youth teams. Her international career already features a UEFA Women’s U17 Championship title in 2023 and she has gone on to establish herself at U19 level with more than 25 caps and four goals.

Sangaré’s excitement

“When London City contacted me, I didn’t hesitate to come because it is a beautiful ambitious project. The WSL is one of the best leagues at the moment. There is a lot of fans who come to the games and it will be exciting to play in the large stadiums the best stadiums in the world.

“I’m excited to play with Daniëlle as she was at Lyon and she is a good teammate. I’m happy to be here and I am excited to start!”

Season ahead

With Fernández already through the door, Sangaré signed, and Corrales close to joining, London City Lionesses are putting together a youthful group brimming with potential. Their debut campaign in the WSL is set to begin later this month and anticipation is building.

Season preparations

With Corrales close to joining and Sangaré already on board, London City Lionesses continue to build a squad with potential and ambition as they count down to the start of the 2025/26 season.