Weeks after scoring a brace against them in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, Salma Paralluelo has signed a four-year contract with OL Lyonnes. The 22-year-old forward joins the French club on a free, after her FC Barcelona contract expired in the summer and ensuing renewal talks collapsed.
The saga sees an unfortunate end to a partnership that saw both parties benefit massively from each other. Having played before for hometown club Zaragoza CFF and Villareal, it was at Barcelona that Paralluelo established herself amongst the elite.
In 75 appearances for the Blaugrana, Paralluelo scored 45 goals and won a stunning 15 team titles in the process. The move also helped her earn a national call-up for Spain which culminated in Paralluelo lifting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Paralluelo’s honours with Barca included four consecutive Liga F and Supercopa de Espanas triumphs, as well as three Copa de la Reina and as many Champions Leagues. Ironically, two of those European titles were won against Lyon itself.
Anyone aware of even the slightest ongoings in women’s football would know the sheer bravado required to make a move from Lyon to Barcelona.
Barca, owing to its on-field dominance, is simply not used to letting go of its best talents. Fans have pointed out how they kept faith in Paralluelo through her early struggles and injuries, only for her to jump ship to their bitter rivals when Barcelona needed her the most.
As expected, Paralluelo has been labelled a traitor and back biter, receiving immense criticism for her lack of loyalty to the club that gave her a platform to grow into a world beater. On X, she has been called a snake, rate, and every other derogative imaginable, completing her transformation from Cules’ heart throb to enemy number one in a matter of hours.
Beneath all the hate, there seems to be a real sense of emotional betrayal for Barca fans. Afterall, they watched Paralluelo grow with the club, and had their vision set on her becoming the face of the club in the near future.
The comparisons of Paralluelo choosing Lyon have thus ranged from Neymar leaving Lionel Messi‘s men to join Paris Saint-Germain and Luis Figo swapping the Blaugrana for Real Madrid’s white. In a more current context, fans have claimed Paralluelo’s exit is akin to someone like a Lamine Yamal joining the Los Blancos in pursuit of better riches.
The parallels take root from the fact that Lyon have emerged as Barcelona’s biggest challenger in recent times, which elevates the element of controversy in Paralluelo’s move.
Lyon and Barcelona have met four times in the Champions League final over the last seven years, winning twice each. The French emerged triumphant the first two times in 2019 and 2022, before losing 2-0 and 4-0 in 2024 and 2026 respectively.
Paralluelo played a telling role in the latest of those wins. The 22-year-old struck twice late in the game to double her team’s lead and ensure Lyon had no way back into the contest.
The key to unlocking Paralluelo’s abilities at Barcelona was Spanish manager Jonatan Giraldez. Under his tutelage, the forward enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023/24, scoring 34 goals and assisting seven times to cement herself as one for the future.
While Barcelona rejoiced then in their success of turning a raw talent into a world beater, the same bond has now turned the tables against them. Giraldez took charge of Lyon at the start of last season and is a key reason behind Paralluelo choosing the French club as her next destination.
The duo’s link up is part of a grand strategy to usurp Barca from the throne of women’s football by its first female tycoon Michele Kang. She had previously lured away Giraldez from the Blaugrana to join Washington Spirit in 2024, before switching him over to her other club Lyon last year.
Credit – London City Lionesses
Kang’s move for Paralluelo has thus sent shockwaves in Barcelona as the Catalans continue to suffer from an unforeseen exodus.
This year alone, Kang has snatched two-time Ballon D’Or winner Alexia Putellas away from Barcelona by signing the 32-year-old for London City Lionesses. Fellow Barca star Mapi Leon is also tracing the same path, while Ona Battle has joined Arsenal to leave the Catalans facing a massive talent drain.
To make matters worse, Paralluelo, Putellas, Leon, and Battle have all left Barcelona on a free. Given the club’s major role in transforming the trio into world-class players, getting no financial incentives from their exit is bound to hurt in the short and long-term.
All the context tangled together thus makes for a sad state of affairs for Blaugrana. They failed to keep hold of the immensely successful Giraldez a couple of years ago and have seen major talents walk away.
Now, Paralluelo joining the one club they have faced any challenge from in the recent past brings matters to a head. The only thing that can make the situation worse is Paralluelo turning up for Lyon if the two end up head-to-head again with a European trophy at stake.
