It is not difficult to understand why any Italian club would want to sign Alisha Lehmann: last season she helped Juventus win a league and cup double, she is an international winger who accumulated 19 goals and 10 assists in England’s Women’s Super League and, yes, there is the small matter of her 16.7m Instagram followers and 12m TikTok followers, an online presence that commands a commercial power vast for any athlete and pretty unique in women’s football.
What is perhaps not so immediately obvious is why, aged 26 and with her peak football years probably ahead, she would opt to join a club that finished in the bottom half of Serie A last season and cannot yet offer European football. However, the Switzerland forward’s reasons for signing a three-year deal with FC Como Women, she says, have a deeper meaning.
“It’s an independent club, fully focused on women’s football – and that really matters to me,” the former Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham player says. “From the start, I could see this wasn’t just another team; it’s a project with real purpose and vision. [So] signing with FC Como Women just felt right.”
The club, nestled in the picturesque Italian lakes, were bought in 2024 by the investment group Mercury13, which has pledged to “rethink football ownership” and tailor everything within the organisation towards women’s football. The group, founded by Victoire Souki Cogevina and Mario Malavé, has attracted high-profile investors from the football world, including the Italy icon Giorgio Chiellini and – in June – the former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, and aims to be a multi-club ownership group. Como have no ties to any men’s club.
“It sends the message that being strong, ambitious and expressive can all go hand in hand; that’s important for the future of the sport,” says Lehmann, who likes the club’s “female-first mentality” and apparent ethos.
“We’re in a moment where women’s football can define itself on its own terms, and independent clubs like Como Women have the opportunity in leading the movement. [It] isn’t just about winning matches. It’s about building something that lasts. This is the first time I’ve joined an independent club. That was a big part of my decision. It shows there is a different way of doing things.”
The club’s chief executive, Nicola Verdun, expressed delight at signing Lehmann, saying: “She brings not only her talent on the pitch but also her personality and passion for the game.” It is the latest headline-grabbing move at a club that, in May, sought to raise awareness of the challenges female players can face in finding work after their playing careers when their former Italy defender Alia Guagni had her CV printed on the front of her kit for the final match of her career. Lehmann, though, has not headed 160km north-east from Turin for a marketing gimmick or to be a team’s poster star.
“I came here to play football and hope to earn my place by working hard,” she says. “I came here to compete and to grow as an athlete. The rest will come if I stay true to that. For me, it’s simple: I want to play as much as possible, help the team, and enjoy football. What I love is that they [Como] take the game seriously, but also create space for players to be themselves.”
It is also an intriguing time to be part of Italian women’s football, after Le Azzurre’s impressive run to the Euro 2025 semi-finals, where they were leading England in Geneva until Michelle Agyemang’s 96th-minute equaliser and lost in extra time. It was Italy’s first major semi-final since 1997 and the country is among those hoping to host the next Women’s European Championship in 2029.
“There’s so much potential here,” says Lehmann, who played at the Euros in her home country this summer and at the 2023 World Cup. “Italy’s performance showed the quality and spirit in the game here, and now people are paying attention. I think the league is ready to take a big step forward. With more visibility, investment, and commitment to the players, Serie A Women can become a real force in Europe. Being part of that journey is something I’m really excited about.”
She is also hopeful for the future of the sport in Switzerland, for whom she scored her first goal seven years ago and has 62 caps. La Nati attracted national-record crowds in July en route to facing Spain in the quarter-finals, as the Swiss public became more engaged in women’s football than ever, and Lehmann says: “The Euros were unforgettable. It was emotional seeing how many people came out to support us.
“I really believe it changed how people see women’s football in Switzerland and beyond. The passion is there, the audience is real. Now it’s about turning that momentum into long-term growth.”
Quote of the day
This was never just a launch. It was a social experiment. We wanted to prove the power of women’s football and the cultural weight of this club’s story. And it worked” – Stef McLoughlin, head of commercial at Glasgow City, after the covert launch of the club’s new kit. City sold 130 shirts in 10 days via the women’s football shirt retailer Foudys, which listed the kit anonymously. Fans bought it without knowing the club or colours, responding to teasers as to which club it could be.
Talking points
Taylor takes Reds role: The former Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor has been appointed as the head coach of Liverpool. As reported by the Guardian, the club held talks with him as part of their search for a manager after Matt Beard’s departure in February. The assistant manager Amber Whiteley took interim charge, guiding Liverpool to a seventh-placed finish in the WSL. Taylor won the FA Cup in 2020 and League Cup in 2022 with City and twice finished second in the league behind Chelsea. He was sacked in March after almost five years in charge, days before the League Cup final, which they lost to Chelsea.
Ingle’s City switch: The Wales midfielder Sophie Ingle has joined the WSL2 side Bristol City after the expiry of her Chelsea contract. Ingle, who secured her 142nd cap for Wales at the 2025 Euros, said: “After speaking to Charlotte [Healy, Bristol City’s manager] about everything that the club offers both on and off the pitch, it felt like a good fit. The club wants to get promoted and I love winning.” Ingle won 11 trophies with Chelsea.
Lionesses in the hunt: Five Lionesses have been nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or after their Euro 2025 win this summer. The captain Leah Williamson, right-back Lucy Bronze, forwards Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who is also nominated for best goalkeeper, have been included in the 30-player shortlist. The England manager Sarina Wiegman, treble-winning Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor and Arsenal’s Champions League-winning manager Renée Slegers have been nominated for coach of the year. England and Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang, who scored late Euros equalisers against Sweden and Italy has been nominated for the Kopa trophy, which recognises players under 21. Suzanne Wrack
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Still want more?
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