/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballgroundguide.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F07%2FFotoJet-5.jpg)
A Ballon d'Or winner could soon have a new home in Crystal Palace after plans for the £130million redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre were given the green light.
The landmark project has received planning approval and could eventually become home to Women's Super League side London City Lionesses, who have previously been linked with relocating to the historic venue.
Such a move would see two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas play her home matches at one of London's most iconic sporting arenas.
The redevelopment is set to transform the ageing complex into a modern multi-sport destination while preserving its rich sporting heritage.
Alexia Putellas could eventually call Crystal Palace home
The approval opens the door to exciting possibilities beyond athletics, with London City Lionesses previously reported to be considering the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre as a future home.
The ambitious WSL club strengthened its growing reputation by signing Alexia Putellas this summer, bringing one of the biggest names in world football to England.
Although no relocation has been confirmed, the refurbished venue would provide an impressive stage for the Lionesses as they continue to establish themselves among the elite of the women's game.
With a 25,000-capacity stadium, the venue would also be among the largest homes in the Women's Super League, allowing the club to accommodate larger crowds as interest in women's football continues to grow.
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre set for major overhaul
The approved £130m refurbishment will modernise one of Britain's most famous sporting venues.
Plans include a renovated swimming and diving pool, a new padel centre, 3×3 basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches and a full-size artificial multi-sports pitch, alongside the complete refurbishment of the 25,000-capacity athletics stadium.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the decision, saying: “This historic and much-loved national sports facility has created so many UK sporting stars, but it needs major investment and refurbishment and I am committed to delivering this.”
Once complete, the revamped athletics arena will become London's second-largest track and field venue behind the London Stadium and the 12th-largest stadium in the capital overall. It will also sit alongside nearby Selhurst Park and The Den as one of south London's biggest sporting venues.
Local MP Liam Conlon described the approval as a landmark moment for the area.
“This is a major milestone and a massive moment for South London,” he said. “Crystal Palace was once known as the spiritual home of UK Athletics, but the site has become increasingly run down, with the pools closed for years and the stadium looking tired.
“This once-in-a-generation project will deliver a revitalised centre, providing opportunities for local people in our area, and inspiring the next generation of Team GB Olympians and Paralympians.”
The stadium has hosted some of athletics' greatest names over the years, including Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, Elena Isinbaeva, Usain Bolt and Haile Gebrselassie, and the redevelopment is designed to ensure it remains a major sporting destination for decades to come.
FGG says: Women's football could be a major winner
The redevelopment is fantastic news for south London regardless of who eventually calls the stadium home. However, if London City Lionesses do relocate, supporters could watch one of the greatest players of her generation in Alexia Putellas at a modern 25,000-capacity venue.
That would represent another significant statement for the Women's Super League while giving a historic stadium a new chapter in its illustrious history.