LONDON CALLING

Lionesses land Geyoro but insist it's not a record deal

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LONDON City Lionesses chief executive Martin Semmens has denied the club paid a world-record transfer fee for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Grace Geyoro.

It had been reported the deal for the 28-year-old was worth £1.43million, beating the £1.1m paid by Orlando Pride to Tigres UANL for Mexico winger Lizbeth Ovalle last month.

However, Semmens said the fee had been overinflated.

“It is a fantastic signing and a fantastic player but the numbers are not quite right,” he said. “I suspect those figures are more promoted from the other side.

“It is a big deal, around the £1m mark, but not a world record sadly.”

Geyoro, who has won 103 caps and scored 22 goals for France, is the Lionesses’ 16th permanent signing of the summer as they prepare for their maiden season in the top flight.