London City signs Arques in Spanish WSL spending spree

London City Lionesses have signed Spanish youth international Daniela Arques from Sporting on a three-year contract. The transfer remains subject to international clearance.

The deal adds to a significant summer of capital deployment by London City aimed at capturing the Women's Super League market. The club has already secured the signatures of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and ex-Barcelona defender Mapi Leon.

By acquiring Arques, London City is tapping into a highly productive Spanish youth development system. The 20-year-old midfielder played 32 games in Portugal last season, establishing herself as a key figure. She previously spent time at Levante and Alhama in Spain's top division, having started her career at Athletic Club de Murcia.

Arques brings a proven winning pedigree to the English market. She was part of the Spain under-19 squad that won consecutive European titles in 2024 and 2025 before moving up to the under-20 team.

A Spanish core in the UK market

The concentration of Spanish talent at a single English club underscores a broader shift in European women's football economics. Top-tier UK clubs are increasingly leveraging their financial position to attract established stars and promising prospects from the continent.

Arques will reunite with Spanish boss Eder Maestre in London. She highlighted the developmental and competitive value of the WSL move.

"I'm really excited to be joining London City and can't wait to get started," said Arques. "Coming to the UK to play in the WSL is a brilliant opportunity and I'm looking forward to developing as a player and as a person. Being surrounded by experienced players and learning from them every day is something I'm really excited about."

For investors and league executives, London City's transfer strategy represents a clear attempt to build a commercially viable, star-driven squad. Pairing a highly touted youth international like Arques with globally recognised figures such as Putellas is a calculated effort to raise the club's profile.

The broader Spanish contingent arriving in London points to a growing talent drain from domestic leagues toward the better-funded English top flight. As UK clubs continue to outspend their European counterparts in the transfer market, the structural gap in women's football finances across the continent is becoming increasingly apparent.