Ahead of Barclays Women’s Super League fixture release day on Friday 25 July, we’re taking a look at each of West Ham United women’s team’s opponents for 2025/26. Today we’re analysing… London City Lionesses.
2024/25 campaign
London City Lionesses will be making their first appearance in the Barclays Women’s Super League this term following their WSL2 title-winning campaign in 2024/25.
The season went down to the wire at second-place Birmingham City. The script could not have been written better to create a more dramatic final day, as the Pride knew that taking a point from St Andrews’ Stadium would be enough to clinch promotion to the top flight.
After a goalless first half, any nerves from the visitors were brushed aside when the league's top-scorer Isobel Goodwin and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah netted to put London City into the ascendency. Birmingham staged a comeback, though, levelling proceedings on 83 minutes, but the away side held on to draw 2-2 and get the point they needed, and the celebrations ensued.
London City Lionesses, who formed after splitting from Millwall in 2019, lost just three league games last term. Two of them came back-to-back in November against Birmingham and Durham, but for the second half of the campaign, Jocelyn Prêcheur’s side were largely faultless, not losing in their last 13 league matches.
The Subway® Women’s League Cup saw London City come up against West Ham United, Southampton and Portsmouth. With Rehanne Skinner’s side topping the group with three wins from three matches, the Pride finished second with six points but were unfortunate not to qualify for the quarter-finals as one of the best second-place teams.
In the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, London City got a taste of what they will be coming up against next season as they were drawn away to Arsenal in the round of 16. On that February afternoon at Meadow Park, the Gunners proved too strong after a goal in either half from Spain international Laia Codina and Sweden's UEFA Euro 2025 striker Stina Blackstenius.
Transfer business so far
London City Lionesses have been the busiest WSL club in the transfer window so far this summer, recruiting six new names at the time of writing ahead of their maiden top-flight campaign.
Headlining the arrivals is Netherlands international Danielle van de Donk following her departure from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer. The former Arsenal midfielder, who spent six years in north London, brings plenty of experience to London City - with 167 international caps to her name.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old left-back Poppy Pattinson has also joined the Hayes Lane club. She also arrives with top-flight experience having plied her trade with Bristol City, Everton, and Brighton & Hove Albion in the WSL.
The Pride also secured the permanent service of Teyah Goldie, who spent last season on loan at the club. The England U23 international won the side’s Young Player of the Year award following her 24 appearances in 2024/25.
Goalkeeper Elene Lete, defender Isa Kardinaal and forward Sanni Franssi have also made the move to south London.
Six players departed London City upon the expiration of their contracts, while forward Miljana Ivanović has signed for Swedish club Malmö FF.
One to watch: Danielle van de Donk
As mentioned, it’s hard to look past Van de Donk as one to watch for London City Lionesses next term.
The 33-year-old knows what it takes to succeed in the WSL, having won the league in 2017/18 with Arsenal, with whom she also lifted the Women’s League Cup and Women’s FA Cup.
Her four seasons in France with Lyon also saw her accumulate an abundance of silverware, winning three Division 1 Feminine titles, two Trophée des Championnes Féminin, one Coupe de France Féminine, and of course, the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2021/22.
Played for both: Lois Joel
Young Lionesses Lois Joel made the move to east London in the summer of 2020 from the University of North Carolina, after spending a year in the United States.
The full-back spent two seasons in Claret and Blue, which included West Ham’s sixth-place WSL finish in 2021/22. She made 26 appearances across all competitions.
Indeed, it was in the summer of 2022 that Joel switched to London City Lionesses, where she racked up 50 appearances across two campaigns - scoring on three occasions - and was named captain in 2023/24.
Following the expiration of her contract at the Pride, Joel switched to the north of England to pen a contract with Newcastle United, for whom she made 24 appearances last term.
Memorable meeting: London City Lionesses 1-4 West Ham, 2024/25
Skinner’s side faced the Pride in the second round of group-stage fixtures in the Women’s League Cup last term and showed their WSL quality, storming to a resounding 4-1 victory.
Viviane Asseyi’s one-on-one finish opened the scoring on a blustery afternoon in Bromley, but Sofia Jakobsson’s curling effort cancelled out the France international’s goal before the break.
But in the second half, the Hammers asserted their control on the game to clinch the three points. Manuela Paví capitalised on a defensive error to slam home her first goal for the Club before Asseyi notched her second. And the Irons’ fourth of the game late on as Riko Ueki wrapped up proceedings with a clinical finish.
