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What is happening?
In a fresh blow to Champions League champions Barcelona, the Catalan club announced the departure of star Salma Baraluello on a four-year deal with French side Lyon, a move that reflects the continued bleeding of female stars from the Blaugrana’s ranks since their last continental crown.
Lyon confirmed in an official statement that the 23-year-old Spaniard has joined their ranks in a deal that represents Baraloello’s first professional experience outside of Spain, where he will be reunited with his former coach Jonathan Giraldes, who is leading the legacy French club’s ambitious project under owner Michel Kang.
A career full of titles
Baraloello, who won Spain’s 2023 World Cup Young Player of the Year, leaves the Catalan club after four busy seasons in which he won 14 trophies and scored 72 goals in 131 appearances, including two goals in the last Champions League final.
The left winger’s departure comes as part of a mass exodus in Barcelona’s ranks as the team previously parted ways with star player Alexia Botias, who joined London City Lionesses, also owned by Michael Kang, leaving the Blaugrana with a major challenge to compensate for the departure of key players.
Ambitious reinforcements for Lyon
For their part, Lyon have expressed their delight at the inclusion of Baraloello, who joins a list of new signings including Caroline Weir, Maria Louise Gross and Johanna Retting-Canered, in a move which bolsters the east of France club’s ambitions to regain their place among Europe’s best players in the coming seasons.
