Kang’s values a big factor in London City Lionesses move says Asllani

London City Lionesses’ latest signing Kosovare Asllani says that owner Michele Kang’s values were one of the main reasons for her joining the club. 

The Swedish international forward joins London City Lionesses after spending the last two years at AC Milan. Asllani has enjoyed a glittering career which has seen her win league titles with both Linköpings FC and Manchester City, along with medals at the Olympic Games and FIFA Women’s World Cup with her country. 

When speaking to the media after signing for London City Lionesses, Asllani expressed her excitement for her new challenge. She also said that owner Kang’s shared values were a big factor in her reason to move to the English league. 

“I see someone investing in the project, who is a do-er,” Asllani said when commenting on Kang’s leadership. “I remember leaving the room feeling like I wanted to work with her because this is what I’ve been waiting for; someone that doesn’t just talk, but someone that is doing. I think that is the biggest difference if you compare to the majority of clubs in the world, where you talk a lot and you say you want to do that, but then you withhold.

“I feel like our values are aligned. Everything that I’ve been fighting for, she is fighting for. I think it’s something huge for women’s football here in England. She won’t be or we will not be satisfied until we’re in the WSL and until we win it. I think that’s the mindset you need to have.

“I’m ready to take a lot of responsibility here, and others coming to this team. There will be a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, but I like it. I like challenges, I like taking risks, I like being brave.”

Going on to discuss Kang’s vision for London City Lionesses further, Asllani admitted that the project is something that she couldn’t ignore, especially taking into account the values behind the challenge.

She said “Something was too intriguing with this project for me not to join. I could have taken the easy choice to join another top club in the world, but I’ve experienced a lot as a player and different leagues. I’ve experienced different kinds of cultures and football and all along, having my values, fighting for the equal rights, equal payment, the investing part, people to realise our worth [was important].

“After meeting with Michele, I wanted to be onboard on this. I believe in the project in a way that she’s on a mission, we’re on a mission together and I think that’s something that you don’t see in women’s football.

“I think this is raising the women’s game to the next level in the investing part. Obviously, people think I’m crazy but I think I was terrified also, taking this decision. I told Michele I was scared but I’m going to do it anyway because I believe in it.”

Asllani has come to London City Lionesses to win and to be successful as quickly as possible. She believes that owner Kang has the right values and mindset to build a successful brand in the women’s game.

She said “We won’t be satisfied until we are promoted and until we win. I’ll do the respect; it’s not easy to create a team, it will take [time]. I don’t want to take time, but [do it] as fast as possible. There’s a question over how fast we can do it.

“The values we [both] have are the same values she’s doing with the other clubs she has; the vision, the mission, that feeling and mindset of never being satisfied until you win and the way she’s investing, not just on the players, the clubs, the resources around the staff. I think that is something unique.

“We’ve been standing on the pitch doing all the time and talking and we’ve just been waiting to have this investment. [It’s great to see] someone like Michele coming along that believes in the product and who is ready to give it her all to give us the best resources for us to perform. I’ve been in other clubs where you talk about winning, you want to win and then you can’t have resources and they come back and say ‘well, you haven’t won anything’. If we’re going to compare with the men, you invest before you wait for the result in the women’s game. It’s always been perform, win and then we will invest and that’s the difference with having her here and having the same values and the same mindset; that it takes investments to create a better product. She’s doing it and I’m all onboard, going wholeheartedly into this project because I believe in it. I believe in everything she says because that’s what I get, the feeling is she’s a do-er.

“This is a passion decision, passion and mission, the whole way.”

Asllani has signed a two-year contract with London City Lionesses and she will officially join the club on 1 July 2024.