Kang's London City spending tests WSL financial rules
London City Lionesses' high-profile summer signings have triggered a debate over the Women's Super League's financial rules, with owner Michele Kang arguing the salary cap disadvantages independent clubs.
London City Lionesses have signed Alexia Putellas and four-time Champions League winner Mapi León from Barcelona, alongside Mary Earps from PSG. The recruitment drive also includes Germany forward Nicole Anyomi and Janni Thomsen, plus new contracts for Freya Godfrey, Poppy Pattinson and Kosovare Asllani.
The club finished sixth in its first Women's Super League (WSL) season. Kang insists the upgraded squad can “go all the way”, stating: "I want to see them win a WSL title, I want them to qualify for European competition." Securing a two-time Ballon d'Or winner in Putellas on one of the biggest contracts in world football sent a clear message of intent.
A challenge to the WSL financial model
The aggressive spending raises immediate questions about the WSL's salary cap, which limits wages to 80 per cent of 'relevant revenue' plus an extra £4m. Kang claims the current system structurally favours clubs affiliated with men's teams, putting fully independent outfits at a steep competitive and financial disadvantage.
"If you're with a men's team, the front-of-jersey sponsorship, they just allocate a certain percentage to the women's team so all of a sudden you can say it's 20 per cent, 30 per cent so their revenue is higher," Kang said. London City is the only top-flight English club without a men's affiliate.
Kang is pushing to alter these rules to help newly promoted teams avoid immediate relegation. To fund the squad within the current framework, she is hiring advisors to maximise commercial and ticket revenues. She framed her investment as a push for pure commercial viability rather than corporate subsidy.
"I want to see this game stand entirely on its own and the players earn what they're truly worth, not because someone's generous or a corporation's writing a DEI cheque but the business of this game is generating that revenue," she said.
The arrival of established European stars from Barcelona and PSG is expected to disrupt the WSL's established hierarchy. "With her [Putellas'] arrival and other players to join it's going to give a little jolt, a kick, to making the league more competitive and compelling," Kang said.
