Aitana Bonmati to the WSL? Barcelona star intrigued by English league but admits being a one-club player also has appeal after signing bumper new deal in Catalunya

Amid rumours of interest from English champions Barcelona, the Spain star put pen to paper on a new deal in Catalunya last month, with her previous contract having been set to expire in the summer of 2025. According to ESPN, the new terms have made Bonmati the highest-paid player in the women's game, and she is now set to stay at the club until 2028.

The midfielder made her senior Barcelona debut in 2016, aged 18, and has gone on to make nearly 300 appearances in the time since, winning 18 major honours and the Ballon d'Or. As such, she has achieved iconic status at the club and could add to that by seeing out her career with the reigning European champions.

However, in an interview with Sky Sports, Bonmati admitted that there is also appeal in England's WSL. "That would be nice to be a one-club player," she said. "For now, I've been playing for Barcelona since I was 13 years old. It would be nice if I could end my career like this. But you never know. I'd never close the door. You never know what might happen in the future. But for now, I'm here for four more years, so I want to enjoy.

"[The WSL] is a league that is so nice because England are investing a lot in women's football since the Euros - I cannot say the same about here in Spain. Of course, it's a league that we have to keep watching, to be like them for helping women's football grow.

"I would say that England is an example off the field. Barca as a club is the same, but I would say England as a country. They won the Euros and took this as an opportunity to invest and help to grow women's football. And they are doing things so good - they are putting a lot of people in the stadiums. They are opening their (men's teams') stadiums every single week - this is so nice. Also, they are investing in brands, publicity and marketing. They are an example for everything."

Chelsea were heavily linked with Bonmati before she signed her new contract in Barcelona. Several publications in Spain reported that the Blues were willing to pay her €3 million (£2.55m/$3.26m) release clause, thus setting a new record for a transfer in women's football. However, Bonmati's priority was Barca.

It will be a few years now until new transfer speculation starts around Bonmati, with her focus for at least the next four years to be on delivering even more success to Barcelona. The Catalans begin their new Champions League campaign on Wednesday, kicking off a bid for a third successive title with a group stage fixture against Manchester City.