In a significant move towards her vision of building a preeminent women's football organization, Michele Kang has announced the acquisition of London City Lionesses FC, an independent club competing in the FA Women's Championship. The English club now joins the ranks of Kang's growing multi-club organization, following her previous agreements to take over OL Feminine and ownership of the Washington Spirit earlier this year.

Kang, determined to establish her organization where the "center of gravity" lies in women's football, highlighted England as a crucial market. Speaking to The Athletic, she expressed her enthusiasm for the deal, stating, "I've been looking for an opportunity to land, and London City Lionesses being the only independent team, it was a no-brainer."

Unlike other women's teams in England, which are often attached to top-tier men's clubs, the independent structure of London City Lionesses emerged thanks to the efforts of founder Diane Culligan. Culligan stepped in to assist Millwall FC during a challenging period for their women's side and subsequently established the Lionesses as a truly independent professional club in the UK.

Currently positioned ninth in the Championship standings, the Lionesses have demonstrated strong performances in previous seasons, finishing second and third. Carolina Morace leads the team as the head coach, and their home matches are held at Princes Park in Dartford, just 18 miles southeast of central London.

Kang's immediate focus is to support the Lionesses in successfully completing the ongoing season while exploring avenues to enhance the club's resources strategically. She intends to retain the club's branding and identity, in line with her approach with other teams in her multi-club organization, such as Lyon and the Spirit.

Looking ahead, Kang's ambitious plans involve expanding her women's football empire with three to five additional teams by the end of 2023. Discussions for potential teams are already underway in Asia, and Kang aims to target other European countries, South America, Mexico, and Africa. With her eyes on both promotion to the Women's Super League (WSL) and eventually winning the league, Kang aligns her strategy with the upcoming independent structure of the top divisions, scheduled to be implemented in November under NewCo.

Highlighting the significance of increased investment in women's football, Kang praised the NewCo model for the BWSL and BWC, emphasizing the need for uncompromised resources in the female game.

As Kang embarks on this new venture, she draws inspiration from the success story of Wrexham, a lower division club that achieved promotion to the WSL and garnered massive attention through the "Welcome to Wrexham" documentary. Kang acknowledges the potential impact of such narratives and emphasizes her commitment to shaping a new chapter in women's football.

With her latest acquisition, Kang takes another stride towards establishing a global women's football powerhouse, aiming to elevate not only her own organization but also the overall standard and investment in women's football within England and beyond.

As Kang's empire continues to expand, the world of women's football eagerly anticipates the next moves she will make to shape the future of the game.

[News Source: The Athletic]