The former Barça captain, Vicky Losada, returns to Catalonia to play for Badalona Women, on loan from Bristol City, in a deal linked to the Mercury13 fund.
The midfielder Vicky Losada (Tarrasa, 1991) is back playing in Liga F. She joins Badalona Women, arriving on loan from English club Bristol City. The operation is part of the Mercury13 investment fund's project, which owns both the English club and the Badalona team.
“After five years away from home, I really missed playing the football that is played here. Also my family. I’m returning to a place where I know I will be very happy,” the player stated at her presentation.
Losada, who played for Arsenal and Manchester City, returns to Spain after a long stint in the Women’s Super League. Her experience and leadership will be key for a Badalona Women team that aims to establish itself among the top clubs in the women's top tier.
“I would like to have another Catalan team in the Champions League to provide more opportunities for young local talent, but I think it’s very complicated. The goal is to be consistent at a high level. Little by little, things can be achieved,” she explained.
The player has assured that she arrives at a “moment of transition” for the club and that she wants to contribute her experience to help the project grow. “I want to be approachable and add value within the team. Everything I’ve experienced is to help them, but I’m just one of them and I’m eager to get started,” she added.
Losada's arrival comes in a summer where other stars of Spanish women's football, such as Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle, and Mapi León, have also changed clubs. The midfielder has sought to normalise these moves abroad.
“It’s normal for players to seek new challenges. They’ve had their time here and now the investment being made in England is very significant. Many of those who have left have gained a lot here, and as a player, the hardest thing is to maintain motivation. I’m sure that when these players finish their time in England, they will end up back here, returning home,” she stated.
Losada was a key figure in winning the first Champions League in FC Barcelona's history on May 16, 2021, in Gothenburg. Since then, the Blaugrana club has added three more continental titles. “That first Champions will be special for many players and will never be repeated in the same way,” she recalled emotionally.
When asked about Alexia Putellas' departure this summer, the Tarrasa native expressed her understanding. “I started playing with her at Sabadell. Alexia was eight years old and I was ten or twelve. She is a player who has grown a lot, and I completely understand her. Sometimes people don’t get it, but when you’re a player, it’s smarter to continue your career knowing where the limits are. I think her ending was perfect, and she knew it was time to leave,” she noted. “I hope to play with her again in the future,” she added.
The footballer also compared women's football in Spain and England. “There, on the pitch, everything is faster, more physical. Here it’s more intelligent, there’s more quality. It’s true that the investment in England is much greater in terms of media and infrastructure. In this sense, we are a bit behind here, but these are things that can be improved and will gradually happen,” she expressed confidence.
On a social level, Losada highlighted the closeness of Spanish fans. “People are getting to know us more and more, and children are buying shirts with our names. In Spain, we are a bit more approachable with fans; it’s lived with more passion. In England, there’s a slightly more introverted character,” she differentiated.
The entry of Mercury13 into Badalona Women is, for Losada, a sign that Spanish women's football can attract investment. “I am very committed to the Mercury project, and I believe they are doing things very well; they genuinely care about women’s football, and I want to be part of the project. If in two or three years we have results, clubs might consider doing the same [bringing in an investor], and this affects the opportunities that more players will have,” she pointed out. “There is still a long way to go, but having Mercury13 here in Liga F is very positive, and it will be reflected indirectly in the growth of the competition,” she concluded.
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