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Michelle Kang insists the London City Lionesses can “go all the way” this season after an expensive and headline-making summer of signings.
The billionaire club owner is spending big with the two-time Ballon d’Or winner in the summer transfer window Alexia Putellas The biggest names in a recruitment drive that includes the former England No.1 Mary Earps and four-time Champions League winners Measure Leon.
Kang, speaking exclusively Sky Sports News In New York, the emphasis is on club goals, both long and short term.
“Go all the way”, he said. “I’m here to support whatever the club has to achieve. I want to see them win a WSL title, I want them to qualify for European competition.”
London City finished sixth in their first season as a WSL club but it’s fair to say that Champions League football will be pushed into two years.
Signing Putelas to one of the biggest contracts in world football sends a message – Kang and his lionesses are aiming to shake up the establishment.
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Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putelas explains why he decided to leave Barcelona to join London City Lionesses
“With his (Putellas’) arrival and the addition of other players, it will give the league a bit of a jolt, a kick to make it more competitive and compelling,” he said.
“It’s been a lot of hard work. I’m deeply grateful that she’s decided to join this young, unproven team. I’m so happy for the club, the league and women’s football. It’s going to be really exciting.”
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As the London City Lions continue to make more star-studded signings, Sky Sports takes a look at the mastermind behind the transfer, owner Michel Kang.
The London City signing has left some clubs and fans asking: ‘How are they able to do this?’
The WSL has a salary cap of 80 per cent of ‘relevant revenue’ plus an extra £4m. Signing Putellas, Earps, Lyon, Germany forward Nicole Anomy, Janie Thomsen from the Utah Royals and offered a new contract Freya Godfrey, Poppy Pattinson And Kosovar Aslani It will cost a lot, but Kang insists it’s all accounted for.
He said, we are working on every front. “Obviously, one of the ways to do that is to build and grow our revenue. I’ve hired a lot of advisors and partners in ticket sales, to bring in commercial revenue.
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Mary Earps shares why she decided to join the London City Lionesses and lifts the lid on her conversations with majority owner Kang
“For a long time many people thought women’s soccer was unprofessional. I want to see the game fully stand on its own and the players get what they are truly worth, not because some benefactor or corporation is writing a DEI check but because the business of this game is generating that revenue.
“We have a full-court press for commercials and ticket sales so everything will be parallel.”
Kang is also pushing for changes to current financial rules to give clubs a chance to break the usual top four dominance.
He said: “I’m not against keeping a salary cap, but when you have an open system with promotion and relegation, it’s very difficult for newly promoted teams to compete with teams that have been in the league for a long time.
Mapey Leon has joined London City Lionesses from Barcelona
“You’ve seen it in the last few years, the newly promoted team leaves within a year because they can’t be competitive.”
London City are the only team in the top flight not affiliated with a men’s club. Kang says that brings challenges, one of which is declaring revenue.
“If you’re with the men’s team, the sponsorship on the front of the jersey, they only allocate a certain percentage to the women’s team so suddenly you can say it’s 20 percent, 30 percent so their income is higher.
“As an independent team we have to earn every single penny for all our expenses. Nothing happens overnight and this is the first time in England the WSL and FA have had to deal with a fully independent team.
Kang owns the London City Lionesses
“It’s going to take some time but I’m working with the owners and working with the league. It’s very important.
“It’s not just about London City, it’s about the newly promoted teams. Giving them some time and the tools to compete so that the game isn’t just won by the top four and the bottom three always lose and get relegated.”
Kang has the opportunity to break into English football’s elite for any club with the ambition and funds. For now, however, he will be happy if only London City can do it.
Kang now has the star power, we’ll soon find out if the Lions can tear up the league and put a new team on top.
