London City sign Dutch international Van de Donk

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 after finishing two points clear of Birmingham City in 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.

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 – Washington Spirit, Lyon and London City Lionesses – 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.