Izzy Goodwin has committed her future to London City Lionesses by signing a contract extension through summer 2028, rewarding the England U23 international forward for her pivotal role in firing the club into the WSL.

The 24-year-old joined London City in September 2024 and immediately made her mark on the Championship. She finished as the second tier’s top scorer with 16 goals while earning the Player of the Season award as the Lionesses secured promotion to the Barclays WSL.

Goodwin’s outstanding campaign saw her overtake established strikers to claim the golden boot in a competitive Championship season. Her goals proved decisive in London City’s promotion push, with the forward finding the net consistently throughout the campaign.

“I Can Call This Home”

Speaking to londoncitylionesses.com after signing her new deal, Goodwin expressed her delight at extending her stay. “I feel like this is a place that I can call home. I’m really enjoying my time here and I’m absolutely delighted to sign a new contract,” she said.

The contract extension represents a significant statement of intent from both player and club. London City have secured their star striker for the long term, while Goodwin has committed to leading the line in their maiden WSL campaign.

WSL Ambitions Clear

Goodwin outlined her immediate objectives following the contract extension. “Doing the best I can in the WSL and hopefully scoring as many goals as I can are my immediate aims. I just want to help the team win games to give us the best chance of being successful.”

The forward’s goals will be crucial as London City navigate their first season in the top flight. Newly promoted sides often struggle to replicate their Championship form in the WSL, but Goodwin’s proven scoring ability gives the Lionesses genuine hope of survival.

From Championship Hero to WSL Striker

Goodwin’s journey to the WSL has been rapid. Her 16-goal haul in the Championship demonstrated she possesses the clinical finishing and movement required at the highest level. Now she faces the ultimate test, proving she can deliver against elite WSL defenses week in, week out.

The three-and-a-half-year contract suggests London City view Goodwin as a cornerstone of their long-term project. Her combination of youth, proven goalscoring and England U23 recognition makes her exactly the type of player promoted clubs need to retain as they establish themselves in the top division.

Also read: Hannah Hampton: How England’s Goalkeeper Defied Doctors and Poor Eyesight to Win Treble and EURO Glory

Ruesha Littlejohn will serve a five-match suspension after the FA successfully argued that the standard three-game ban for violent conduct was “clearly insufficient” following her red card incident with Leicester City‘s Hannah Cain.

The Crystal Palace midfielder was sent off in the 58th minute of a Women’s League Cup clash on November 23 after what social media described as a “WWE-style takedown” of Cain. Despite Littlejohn denying the FA’s claim that her offense warranted extended punishment, the regulatory commission upheld the decision on Friday.

The FA’s statement confirmed: “The standard punishment for violent conduct is a three-match ban, but the FA claimed that this penalty is clearly insufficient, and Ruesha Littlejohn subsequently denied this claim. The regulatory commission upheld the claim; set aside the standard punishment and imposed the five-match suspension following a hearing.”

What Actually Happened?

The incident unfolded after Leicester’s Olivia McLoughlin tangled with Crystal Palace’s Annabel Blanchard. Cain stepped in between the pair to defuse the situation, prompting Littlejohn to nudge her. Cain responded with a push to the back of the Republic of Ireland midfielder.

Littlejohn then grabbed Cain around the head and wrestled her to the ground in full view of the officials. Despite the red card, Crystal Palace still won 3-0 to reach the League Cup quarter-finals.

Littlejohn: “I Let My Emotions Spill Over“

Speaking at a Republic of Ireland press conference, the 35-year-old admitted she regrets the incident. “I’m quite an emotional person and player. That’s not who I want to be on the pitch, so I will learn from it and move forward,” Littlejohn said.

Ireland head coach Carla Ward defended her player while condemning the online abuse she’s received since. “She’s a human being. She’s someone’s daughter and sister. It’s not okay,” Ward said. “Some of the stuff I’ve seen this week has been disgusting.”

Ward’s comments came after Keira Walsh revealed that the majority of WSL players have received online abuse.

Fixtures Littlejohn Will Miss

The extended ban means Littlejohn will miss Crystal Palace’s WSL 2 clashes with Birmingham City, Bristol City and Sheffield United in the new year, plus their FA Cup tie with Lewes and a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. The commission will explain its decision in writing in due course.

Also read: Crystal Palace’s Ruesha Littlejohn Faces Extended Ban After FA Deems Three-Match Suspension Insufficient

Aitana Bonmati has been ruled out of Spain’s Nations League final second leg against Germany on Tuesday after breaking her leg in training on Sunday morning.

The Barcelona midfielder and three-time Ballon d’Or winner fractured her left fibula after falling awkwardly during a session at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas.

Tests conducted by Spain’s medical services confirmed the diagnosis, with the 27-year-old returning to Barcelona to begin her recovery period.

Aitana Bonmati Breaks Leg in Training: Three-Time Ballon d’Or Winner Ruled Out of Spain vs Germany Nations League Final

“Aitana Bonmati finished the morning session in pain after a bad landing in an accidental action,” the Spanish Football Federation statement read. “She has been diagnosed with a fracture in her left fibula. The player will return to Barcelona and rejoin her club to begin her recovery period.”

Timing Couldn’t Be Worse

The injury comes at a crucial moment for holders Spain, who host Germany on Tuesday after the first leg finished goalless. Bonmati’s absence robs Spain of their most influential midfielder for a fixture that will determine who advances to the Nations League finals.

No timeline has been provided for Bonmati’s return, though fibula fractures typically require 6-12 weeks recovery depending on severity. That could potentially rule her out until February, threatening Barcelona’s Champions League campaign and Spain’s preparations for upcoming internationals.

A Year of Physical Struggles

The broken leg caps a challenging 2025 for Bonmati despite her on-field excellence. She was on the losing side of July’s Euros final against England, playing the full 90 minutes despite being discharged from hospital just days before the tournament began after suffering viral meningitis.

Bonmati was awarded player of the tournament but missed her penalty in the shootout that saw England retain their European crown. The meningitis scare raised concerns about her wellbeing, and now this training ground accident adds another significant setback.

Barcelona’s Midfield Dilemma

Barcelona will be sweating over the timeframe. They’re chasing another Champions League title and currently lead La Liga, making Bonmati’s creativity and control absolutely vital to their ambitions. Her absence forces coach Pere Romeu to reshape his midfield at a critical stage of the season.

Also read: The 18-Year-Old Aston Villa Star Who Could Solve England’s Long-Standing Left-Back Problem