Promoted London City deny Geyoro signing was a record fee
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LONDON - London City Lionesses have denied paying a world-record transfer fee for Grace Geyoro after signing the France midfielder from Paris St Germain on Friday.
A fee of 1.4 million pounds ($1.89 million) - which would have made Geyoro the most expensive player in history - was widely reported by British media on Friday, however London City chief executive Martin Semmens later said the figure was over-inflated, and put it at closer to one million pounds.
"It is a fantastic signing and a fantastic player, but the numbers are not quite right. I suspect those figures are more promoted from the other side," he told talkSPORT.
"It is a big deal around the 1 million pounds mark but not a world record, sadly."
Chelsea also signed United States forward Alyssa Thompson from Angel City on Friday for a club record one million pounds, according to British media reports.
The women's transfer fee record has been broken three times this year, with Chelsea paying 900,000 pounds in January for Naomi Girma, before Arsenal splashed out one million pounds to sign Olivia Smith from Liverpool in July. NWSL team Orlando Pride then paid $1.5 million (1.1 million pounds) for Mexico winger Lizbeth Ovalle last month.
The 28-year-old Geyoro is London City's 16th permanent signing of a busy close season funded by billionaire owner Michele Kang.
"Grace has so many qualities, technically, physically, of course, as a player," said London City boss Jocelyn Precheur who coached Geyoro at PSG.
"She's a complete player with a lot of experience, a player I know very well, it has been a lot of talking this summer to make this deal, but I'm very happy to start to work with her."
Geyoro has scored 22 goals in 103 appearances for France, and has played at the 2024 Olympics, two World Cups and two women's European Championship tournaments.
London City kick off their first WSL season against Champions League winners Arsenal at The Emirates on Saturday.
Thompson's arrival broke Chelsea's previous club record set by Girma's signing. The 20-year-old has scored six goals in 16 NWSL games this season, plus three goals in 22 appearances for the U.S.
Chelsea, who have won the last six WSL titles, kick off their season at home to Manchester City on Friday. REUTERS
