Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati – a Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner – opens the door to joining a club in the Women’s Super League in the future.
Barcelona Women midfielder Aitana Bonmati has left the door open to joining an English club in the Women’s Super League in the future.
The Spain international – regarded as one of the best female players in the world – is the current Ballon d’Or and The Best FIFA Women’s Player award holder after another exceptional year for club and country.
Bonmati was an integral force in Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph in 2023, being bestowed with the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, before winning a magnificent quadruple with Barcelona last season.
The 26-year-old collected her third Champions League title in four years with the all-conquering Catalan giants, in addition to the Primera Division, Copa de la Reina and Supercopa de Espana titles.
Back in September, Bonmati extended her Barcelona contract for another four years until the end of the 2027-28 season, and the deal is believed to have made her the highest-paid female player on the planet.
However, speaking to Sky Sports News during the launch of the latest EA FC game in Madrid, Bonmati refused to close the door on joining a WSL team, in spite of her desire to be a one-club woman.
“Yes, that would be nice to be a one-club player. For now, I’ve been playing for Barcelona since I was 13 years old. It would be nice if I could end my career like this… but you never know,” the midfielder said.
“I’d never close the door. You never know what might happen in the future. But for now, I’m here for four more years, so I want to enjoy.”
Bonmati: ‘England is an example for women’s football’
© Imago
Bonmati played the full 90 minutes during Spain’s World Cup final triumph over England last year, but the result was overshadowed by the Luis Rubiales scandal, as the former president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips, allegedly without her consent.
Rubiales – who affirmed that the kiss was consensual – was subsequently banned from all football-related activities for three years and is set to face trial for one count of sexual assault and one count of coercion.
In addition, female players in the top flight of Spanish football took strike action over low pay at the start of last season, which led to an increase in the minimum wage, but the average still falls far below the WSL.
“[The WSL] is a league that is so nice because England are investing a lot in women’s football since the Euros – I cannot say the same about here in Spain,” Bonmati added.
“I would say that England is an example off the field. Barca as a club is the same, but I would say England as a country. They won the Euros and took this as an opportunity to invest and help to grow women’s football. And they are doing things so good – they are putting a lot of people in the stadiums.
“They are opening their (men’s teams’) stadiums every single week – this is so nice. Also, they are investing in brands, publicity and marketing. They are an example for everything.”
Bonmati has scored 96 goals in 270 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions, and the reigning Champions League holders face Manchester City in their opening group-stage game on Wednesday.