Spain defender Jana Fernández has opened up about the difficulty of leaving Barcelona to join London City Lionesses, describing the move as a mixture of excitement and fear. The 23-year-old, who spent over a decade at the Catalan club, said she always knew she would eventually move to the UK, even if it came sooner than expected.
Fernández was one of several high-profile players to depart Barcelona last summer due to a financial crisis triggered by La Liga's salary limit. The club started the season with only 17 registered first-team players. Fernández expressed regret that fans may have been upset with her exit but stressed it was not a player-led decision. "People have to know it wasn't players' decisions; it was something else," she said.
Despite leaving, Fernández has found comfort in the presence of other Spanish players in London, including former Barcelona teammates Keira Walsh, Lucy Bronze, Laia Codina, and Mariona Caldentey. The group have formed a support network, with Fernández saying: "Having a group of girls you knew there … speaking your own language with them, it makes it feel more like home."
At London City, Fernández has been a regular starter in the Women's Super League, having previously been second choice at right-back for Barcelona and Spain. The club made 17 new signings over the summer under owner Michele Kang, which Fernández described as "crazy" but special. She added: "Everybody comes from a different place, different cultures and languages. That's hard as a new team."
Reflecting on her upbringing at La Masia, Fernández highlighted the values instilled in her about being a good example on and off the pitch. She has established a coaching campus company to give back to young players, continuing the legacy of the youth camps she enjoyed early in her career. "We can show them what a good athlete can be off the pitch as well as on it," she said.
