Nicole Anyomi has signed with the English club London City Lionesses, joining notable players such as Alexia Putellas. Anyomi stated in an interview with Deutsche Welle that she believes England offers better opportunities for her development compared to Germany.
The London City Lionesses, established less than a decade ago, have played in England's top division for one season and are not eligible for the Champions League. Despite this, the club has made significant signings, including two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and England's Euro 2022 winning goalkeeper Mary Earps.
Anyomi, who previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, where she scored 50 goals in 101 Bundesliga matches, expressed her desire for a greater challenge in England. She noted that her friends in the Women's Super League (WSL) had positive feedback about the league.
Anyomi is among several players leaving Germany's Women's Bundesliga for England this summer, including her international teammates Vivien Endemann, Selina Cerci, and Carlotta Wamser. She highlighted the disparities in infrastructure, finances, and coaching as reasons for this trend.
She remarked, "In Germany, you have two or three teams competing at the top, but here in England, there are five, six, seven, or eight teams. The facilities and staff are also significantly better."
With England's national team winning the last two European Championships and no German team winning the Champions League since 2015, there are concerns about Germany's competitiveness. To address these issues, the Frauen-Bundesliga FBL e.V. was formed last December to enhance the league's marketing and revenue, set to take over operations next July.
Anyomi stated, "They have to bring something different into the league so players would stay. I hope they will invest more and do more for the league so players from abroad can come to Germany."
London City Lionesses, which took over the license of Millwall in 2019, have seen accelerated progress under the ownership of Michelle Kang, who also owns OL Lyonnes and Washington Spirit. However, Kang's ownership of OL Lyonnes prevents London City from participating in the Champions League due to UEFA regulations.
Nadine Kessler, UEFA's head of women's football, emphasized the importance of preserving sporting integrity across all sports. Anyomi, currently recovering from a hamstring injury, expressed confidence in her club's commitment to finding a solution regarding the lack of continental football, which could impact her selection for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.
"I did think about that because I know I have to play at the club level, otherwise I won't be selected," she said. "I had the feeling this is the right step."
The trend of Bundesliga players moving to the WSL reflects a broader shift in women's football dynamics.