Putellas and points mean prizes?

Putellas: big price tag, bigger delivery?

New London City Lioness midfielder Alexia Putellas is, as we know, one of the greatest to ever do it. She has won it all, most things multiple times over, and has delivered on the grandest of stages. Her move from Barcelona to the BWSL made headlines around the world and was seen as one of the most landmark signings of this or any other summer.

At £8.5m, she represents one of the most expensive midfield options in Fantasy football. The question is; does her reputation make her one of the first names on your teamsheet? Or – and it seems a scandal to even suggest it – but does she represent something of a risk because of her lack of BWSL experience?

The numbers game

We may not yet have the benefit of English-based statistics, but the evidence from last season suggests Putellas could offer a one-way ticket to points-town.

Take the Spaniard’s Champions League form in isolation; where she faced the best players – and teams – in Europe, and the numbers are compelling.

With seven goals in 11 Champions League games, only three players – then Barca teammate Ewa Pajor, the evergreen Pernille Harder and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo – scored more. Her 11 strikes came from just 12 shots on target, too. BWSL defenders be warned; give Putellas sight of goal and more often than not, the ball will find the back of the net. In two Champions League games alone, against AS Roma and SL Benfica, she had 14 shots in 170 minutes.

And when she wasn’t scoring, she was busy scheming, creating and setting up others. She made seven assists in all, just one behind the competition’s most prolific goalmaker, Bayern Munich’s Klara Bühl.

Moreover, of her Barcelona teammates, Putellas attempted the second highest number of passes – 778 – behind new London City teammate Mapi Leon.

Domestic dominance

Delve deeper into her domestic stats and the evidence continues: 25 league starts reaped nine goals and seven assists. Her record of 0.56 goals per 90 minutes was the highest of any Barca midfielder, and let’s not forget she was in pretty good company. Of the Barca squad, only Claudia Pina beat Putellas’ goal and assist average per 90 minutes.

This isn’t a one-season wonder either. She’s scored 182 goals across 14 seasons. Do the math…

Can she transfer this form to England? Time will tell, but ask any of the Lionesses who faced her – and who were on the receiving end of a devastating double – in the recent 4-0 defeat against Spain in the World Cup qualifier in June, what it’s like to play against her, and you’ll likely get your answer.

Scarier still, she thinks she’s capable of more: “It’s about learning new things, playing with and against other players and just trying to find where my limits are,” she said recently.

Cripes.

2025-26 at a glance

Goals: 9

Assists: 7

Appearances: 25

Starts: 16

Shots: 25

Shots on target: 15

Yellow/red cards: 2

Fantasy price: £8.5m

No-one’s perfect, right? Right?

So, what are the drawbacks? Well, at 32, she didn’t start every game last season, though that will surely be less of an issue at London City. However, by her own admission, she suggests: “it will take time” to settle, “because it’s a new beginning and a big change for me.”

That may be so, but she faces West Ham United and Charlton Athletic in two of her opening three games, which presents her with an opportunity to hit the ground running.

There is, though, a risk of yellow cards. Two in league action, accompanied by two in Europe, represents a potential red flag. Then there’s the price tag. Pick Putellas behind one of the two most expensive forwards in the game – Khadija Shaw at £13.5m or Alessia Russo at £11.5m – and you’re left with slim pickings for the remaining 13 squad places.

However, there’s enough evidence to suggest your investment could reap big rewards. Putellas is box office…a points machine. And as we know, points often mean prizes.

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