Mary Earps is coming home. After two years at Paris St-Germain, the former England goalkeeper has agreed personal terms to join London City Lionesses this summer, marking a high-profile return to the Women's Super League and the country where she earned her place in football history. The 33-year-old, fresh from keeping 12 clean sheets in 22 Ligue 1 appearances as PSG finished third, is not arriving alone: the London club has also reached a verbal agreement with Spain defender Mapi Leon, who departed Barcelona last month after nine years of dominance in European football.
Both signings underscore London City Lionesses' determined push to establish themselves as genuine WSL contenders. Backed by American businesswoman Michele Kang, the club finished sixth in their inaugural top-flight season—a respectable start that the summer window promises to transform. The arrivals of Earps and Leon, expected to be finalized this month, represent the kind of star power that turns ambition into action.
Earps' return is particularly resonant. The two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper of the Year was instrumental in England's Euro 2022 victory and guided them to the 2023 World Cup final, becoming the face of a generation that reshaped women's football. Most recently, she spent five years at Manchester United, where she made over 100 appearances and helped the club lift the Women's FA Cup in 2024. Her arrival in London signals a new chapter—one where a proven international leader will anchor a young club's defense.
Leon brings a different kind of pedigree: the quiet authority of a player who has won at the highest levels. The 30-year-old won four Champions League titles at Barcelona, including this season's edition, and contributed to 27 trophies during her nine-year tenure. Yet her career has also been defined by principle. In 2022, Leon joined a group of Spanish players in boycotting the national team over working conditions and disputes with the Spanish Football Federation—a stand that cost her a place in Spain's 2023 World Cup triumph. She returned in October 2025 and started in Spain's Nations League final victory over Germany just a month later, proving that integrity and excellence need not conflict.
The timing of these signings speaks to a broader shake-up in women's football this summer. Alexia Putellas, Barcelona's two-time Ballon d'Or winner, has announced her departure after 14 years at the club—and London City Lionesses are reportedly in pursuit. Elsewhere, Australia's Sam Kerr is available on a free transfer following her Chelsea exit, Arsenal's Katie McCabe is headed to the Blues, and Manchester City are favorites to land England forward Beth Mead. Even established powerhouses are in motion, with Arsenal signing Bayern Munich's Georgia Stanway and Barcelona's Ona Batlle.
In this landscape of movement and ambition, Earps and Leon's commitment to London City Lionesses carries weight. They are not simply seeking new employers; they are endorsing a project, lending their credibility to a club determined to prove that success in the WSL is not the exclusive domain of entrenched powers. For a team that finished sixth just months ago, these two signings suggest that London City Lionesses intend to compete—seriously and immediately.