The world of women’s football has just witnessed another seismic shift. On September 5, 2025, London City Lionesses pulled off one of the most headline-grabbing moves in the sport’s history, signing France international Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported world-record fee of £1.43 million ($1.92 million). This blockbuster transfer not only shatters previous records but also signals the London club’s serious intent as they prepare for their debut season in England’s top flight, the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Geyoro, a 28-year-old midfielder who has been a linchpin for both PSG and the French national team, becomes the Lionesses’ 16th signing in a summer that has seen the club transform its roster with a flurry of high-profile arrivals. The magnitude of the deal is underscored by the fact that it marks the fourth time in 2025 that the women’s world transfer record has been broken—a testament to the sport’s accelerating growth and the increasing willingness of clubs to invest in top talent.
“She’s a complete player with a lot of experience ... A player I know very well,” said London City head coach Jocelyn Prêcheur at a press conference ahead of the WSL opener against Arsenal. “It has been a long talking [talks] during all the summer to make this deal but I’m very satisfied, I’m very happy and looking forward to start to work with her.”
Geyoro’s arrival is a statement of ambition for London City Lionesses, a club founded in 2019 and now owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang. Kang, who also controls Lyon and Washington Spirit, is rapidly becoming one of the most influential figures in women’s football. Her vision for the Lionesses is bold: to build the first top-flight independent women’s team in England, entirely unaffiliated with a men’s club—a rarity in the WSL, where most teams have deep-rooted connections to established men’s sides.
“We know we are a young club, very short history, we want to develop this history ... When you are such a young club you also need to build a culture and all the staff, all the leaders of the club are working very hard to build this culture in this club,” Prêcheur explained, emphasizing the importance of Geyoro’s leadership and experience in shaping the team’s identity.
The numbers speak for themselves. Geyoro made over 270 appearances for PSG after joining the club at the age of 15, scoring 54 goals and captaining the side in her final seasons. She helped PSG to a league title in 2020-21—breaking Lyon’s long-standing dominance—and played a pivotal role in the team’s runs to the Champions League final in 2016-17 and several semi-finals, including as recently as 2023-24. For France, Geyoro has earned 103 caps and scored 22 goals, representing her country at two World Cups, three European Championships, and the 2024 Olympics.
Her performances at this summer’s European Championships were particularly eye-catching. Geyoro played in all four of France’s matches, scoring twice before Les Bleues were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals. Her ability to control the tempo, dictate play, and contribute crucial goals has made her one of the most coveted midfielders in the game.
“Grace has so many qualities, technically, physically as a player,” Prêcheur said. “But what people maybe don’t know is how she can also be in the changing room, off the pitch. She’s a complete player with a lot of experience. She’s a player I know very well. It has been a long time talking during the summer to make this deal, but I’m very satisfied and very happy.”
The transfer fee, described by Prêcheur as “huge,” eclipses the previous record set just last month when Mexico’s Lizbeth Ovalle moved to Orlando Pride for £1.1 million ($1.5 million). That deal itself had only narrowly surpassed the £1 million ($1.36 million) paid by Arsenal for Canada’s Olivia Smith earlier in the window. The rapid escalation of transfer fees in the women’s game is impossible to ignore. In fact, 2025 alone has seen the record broken four times, with U.S. defender Naomi Girma’s £900,000 ($1.1 million) move to Chelsea in January kicking off the trend. There’s already speculation that Chelsea’s recent acquisition of Alyssa Thompson could soon set a new benchmark if all bonus clauses are triggered.
London City’s summer overhaul hasn’t stopped with Geyoro. The club has also brought in England forward Nikita Parris, Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk from Lyon, defender Jana Fernández from Barcelona, and former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem. On deadline day, they triggered the €500,000 release clause to sign Spanish defender Lucía Corrales from Barcelona, further bolstering a squad that is now one of the most diverse and experienced in the league.
Yet, for all the headlines about transfer fees and new arrivals, the Lionesses’ story is also about transformation and ambition. Since Michele Kang’s takeover in December 2023, the club has been on an upward trajectory. They clinched the Championship title in Kang’s first full season and are now poised to make a splash in their first year in the WSL. The Lionesses’ independence from a men’s club is a point of pride, marking them as trailblazers in the English game and offering a new model for women’s football.
Geyoro’s move is more than just a transfer—it’s a symbol of the changing landscape of the sport. PSG, in a statement, praised her “exemplary career” and called her “an iconic figure in the women’s section” who “leaves an indelible mark on the history of the Rouge et Bleu.” The French club extended its “sincere thanks” and wished her “all the best for the rest of her career.”
London City fans, meanwhile, have every reason to be excited. With a midfield now anchored by Geyoro and Van de Donk, and attacking options like Parris and Zelem, the Lionesses are building a team that blends experience, technical skill, and leadership. The possibilities for dynamic play and creative combinations are tantalizing, especially as the club enters uncharted territory in the WSL.
The 2025-26 WSL season is set to kick off with London City visiting Arsenal on Saturday. All eyes will be on Geyoro and her new teammates as they take their first steps in the top flight. Can this ambitious, newly promoted side live up to the hype and challenge the established order? One thing’s for sure: with Grace Geyoro in their ranks, the Lionesses have made their intentions crystal clear.
As the opening whistle approaches, anticipation is building. The Lionesses’ record-breaking summer has set the stage for a campaign that promises drama, excitement, and perhaps a few more surprises. The women’s game continues to reach new heights—and London City Lionesses are leading the charge.
