Lucy Bronze has revealed she received contract offers from both Champions League finalists Lyon and Barcelona before sealing her switch to the latter this summer.
In one of the biggest moves and best kept secrets of the 2022 transfer window, the right back joined Barcelona following the expiration of her Manchester City contract, bringing an end to her second spell at the Academy Stadium.
The move sees Bronze join a powerhouse of European football; Barcelona won the 2020/21 Champions League and sent attendance records tumbling twice at Camp Nou en route to the 2021/22 final, before ultimately being beaten by Bronze’s former club Lyon.
“I had offers from Lyon and Barca, the two best teams in the world,” Bronze said (via BBC Sport). “It wasn’t bad to be able to pick from that and make my decision. It gives me loads of confidence as a player knowing these big teams who are so successful want to sign me, want me to play, know that I can make a difference to their team.
“After the signing on Saturday, Alexia [Putellas] texted me saying she’s excited to play with me on the team. Things like that give you huge confidence when players want to play with you and teams want you. Who doesn’t like being told they’re good? It gives you confidence and confidence plays a huge role in how you perform on the pitch.”
The move marks the second time Bronze has played her domestic football abroad, having spent three hugely successful years with Lyon between 2017 and 2020. The 30-year-old admitted the time she enjoyed with Lyon was instrumental in wanting to try her hand overseas once more.
“I knew I wanted to play abroad again,” Bronze added. “My experience at Lyon was the best time in my career, the best moments of my career. Going out and pushing myself into a different culture, a different experience, playing with the world’s best players – to have the chance to do that again was a no brainer.
“That was the greatest experience of my life. I’ve not had that experience in England quite the same as what I had in Lyon, hopefully I can do it again.”
