London City Lionesses

London City Lionesses is a professional women's association football club based in Bromley, England. The team competes in the Women's Super League, the first tier of English women's football. The club was founded in May 2019, as an independent breakaway club from Millwall Lionesses.

History

On 13 May 2019, a statement was released by Millwall F.C. announcing that the board of directors and senior management at the team's official women's affiliate, Millwall Lionesses, had declared their intentions to split from the club, becoming an independent entity and operating under a new name. The breakaway was already agreed in principle by the FA. The transfer of Millwall's Championship licence was officially approved by the FA on 29 June 2019. The newly-independent club's operations were funded from 2019 by blockchain entrepreneur Anthony Culligan and his wife Diane Culligan, with Diane serving as chairwoman and running the club's operations.

The start of the 2022–23 season saw considerable optimism from club management after England's triumph in the 2022 Euros drove an increase in club season-ticket sales. London City Lionesses hit challenges later that season, however, with their manager Melissa Phillips resigning in January 2023 to take an assistant manager role with Angel City FC, despite the club sitting in first place. In June 2023, all 20 of the club's players sent a collective message to owner Diane Culligan asking her to sell the club or raise additional investment, citing financial instability, a lack of players signed for the upcoming season and the lack of a permanent manager. On 15 December 2023, the Culligans sold the club to entrepreneur and Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang for an undisclosed price.

On 27 June 2024 Kang announced the signing of Kosovare Asllani, captain of the Sweden national side, and the appointment of Jocelyn Prêcheur, formerly of Paris St Germain, as the new manager. The signing of Asllani, who has previously played for Manchester City, Real Madrid and AC Milan, was described as "a statement of intent that will have raised eyebrows around the global women's game." It was also announced that the club would move from Princes Park in Dartford, Kent to Hayes Lane in Bromley under a ground-sharing agreement with Bromley F.C. The club also purchased Cobdown Park, a 23-acre site in Aylesford, Kent with the aim of developing a world-class training facility there.

On 27 July 2024, Kang announced the launch of Kynisca Sports International Ltd., a worldwide multi-team organisation to provide the infrastructure to support the development of London City Lionesses alongside sister clubs Washington Spirit and OL Lyonnes. Under Kynisca, it was intended that each club would retain its own established identity, but that there would be a shared, central capability for aspects such as performance science and technology, data analytics, global scouting, and sporting staff development.

On 4 May 2025, London City Lionesses became the first fully independent team to be promoted to the top women’s league (Women's Super League), after drawing with Birmingham City in the final game of the season. The promotion-deciding final match was the first time a game in the Women's Championship, the second tier of the WSL, was broadcast live on Sky Sports as well as being available on YouTube.

Training facilities

In June 2024, London City Lionesses confirmed the acquisition of Cobdown Park, becoming its sole owners and marking the start of their investment into bespoke women centric training facilities. The 28 acre site at Ditton, Kent a large village in Aylesford, which straddles the A20 (on the old Dover to London road) and is close to junctions 4 and 5 of the M20 is only an 11 minute walk from Aylesford railway station.

The park has been used for sports since 1931 and has always been privately owned and operated, having been previously connected to the former members social clubs of Aylesford Newsprint part of Reed International a once major paper manufacturer in the area whose parent company KPMG appointed administrators on 24 February 2015 closing with over 233 jobs lost. On 26 September 2025, it was announced that the club’s permanent training ground at Cobdown Park had received full planning permission from Tonbridge and Malling borough council in a unanimous vote of their planning committee.

Sponsorship and partnership

Following their promotion to WSL, the London City Lionesses signed a sponsorship deal with Nike on 1 July 2025. Nike became supplier of the club's official kits including home, away and third kits for two years. The deal also included partnership for development of women athletes and community services in London.

Honours

Leagues

• Women's Championship (Level 2) Winners: 2024–25 Runners-up: 2021–22

Players

Current squad

As of 6 February 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Former players

Club staff

As of 18 January 2026.

Managerial history

Information correct as of 21 December 2025.

Seasons

External links