Danielle van de Donk has played for clubs in the Netherlands, England and France Women's Super League newcomers London City Lionesses have signed the Netherlands midfielder Danielle van de Donk on a two-year contract. Van de Donk, who has 167 international caps, returns to England four years after leaving Arsenal to join French side Lyon. The 33-year-old becomes London City's first signing since they clinched promotion to the top flight for the first time afterfinishing two points clear of Birmingham Cityin the Championship. A WSL winner with the Gunners in 2018-19, Van de Donk has won four consecutive league titles since joining Lyon in 2021 and also lifted the Champions League in 2022. "It's just such a nice environment to be in, the club really appeals to me, it reminds me of a little family, and I want to be a part of it," Van de Donk said. "The project that London City have, it's different but in a good way. London City have to battle for everything and that's my style." Financially backed by Michele Kang, who also owns Lyon and Washington Spirit in the USA, London City will become the first independent women's club, not associated with any men's team, to play in the WSL. Since splitting from Millwall in 2019 they have been a regular in the second division but have been boosted by the investment from their wealthy American owner since her arrival in 2023. Van de Donk began her career in the Netherlands with Willem II before playing for VVV-Venlo and PSV Eindhoven. After a brief spell with Goteborg in Sweden she signed for Arsenal in 2015, also winning the FA Cup and League Cup during a six-year stay in London. She also won the European Championship with the Netherlands on home soil in 2017 and helped her nation reach the World Cup final in 2019. Danielle van de Donk was part of the Lyon side that beat Barcelona in the 2022 Champions League final BBC Sport senior women's football news reporter Emma Sanders This is a serious statement of intent from the newly promoted WSL side and their ambitious owner Michele Kang. The independently owned club raised eyebrows in the second tier last season when they brought big-name Sweden internationals Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson, as well as Japan defender Saki Kumagai, to England. Kang was clear she was willing to back them again this season after gaining promotion and they have ambitions to break into the WSL's top four. If there were any doubts as to how serious Kang was, this opening signing of the summer transfer window has squashed them. It is also an example of how Kang hopes to use all three football clubs she owns â Washington Spirit, Lyon and London City Lionesses â to transfer talent between leagues. Van de Donk brings a wealth of experience and knows the league well from her impressive six-year spell with Arsenal between 2015 and 2021, winning the WSL title during that time. Her wife Ellie Carpenter, who she played with at Lyon, has been in talks with Chelsea over a potential move this summer too. Head here to get involved
London City sign Dutch international Van de Donk
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"Danielle van de Donk Joins London City Lionesses on Two-Year Deal"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Danielle van de Donk, a seasoned Netherlands international midfielder, has signed a two-year contract with the newly promoted London City Lionesses, marking her return to the Women's Super League (WSL) after a four-year stint at French club Lyon. Van de Donk, who boasts an impressive 167 international caps, previously played for Arsenal, where she was instrumental in securing the WSL title during the 2018-19 season. Since joining Lyon, she has continued her winning streak, clinching four consecutive league titles and lifting the Champions League trophy in 2022. The 33-year-old expressed her enthusiasm for joining London City, highlighting the club's familial environment and ambitious project, which aligns with her competitive spirit. This signing represents a significant step for the club as they aim to establish themselves in the top flight of women’s football in England after finishing two points clear of Birmingham City to secure promotion from the Championship.
London City Lionesses, now backed by Michele Kang, who also owns Lyon and Washington Spirit, have made a bold statement with this signing, emphasizing their aspirations to compete at the highest level in the WSL. The club has previously made headlines by attracting notable international talent, including Swedish stars Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson, as well as Japanese defender Saki Kumagai. Kang's vision for London City includes fostering a competitive environment and potentially leveraging her ownership of multiple clubs to facilitate talent transfers between leagues. Van de Donk’s wealth of experience, particularly from her successful tenure at Arsenal, is expected to be invaluable as the Lionesses look to break into the WSL's top four. Additionally, her connection to the league runs deep, as her wife, Ellie Carpenter, has been in discussions regarding a move to Chelsea, adding another layer to the narrative surrounding this dynamic player and her new club's ambitions.
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