THERE has been a trend in the WSL in recent years.Generally, the team promoted to the league from the Championship – now the WSL2 – is relegated straight back down the following term.ReutersThe lionesses are backed by Billionaire and Olympic Lyon chairwoman Michelle Kang[/caption]GettyFormer Man Utd star Katie Zelem is just one of the names they have brought to the club[/caption]But the chances of that happening this time around are very slim.That’s because London City Lionesses are not like any other club.With billionaire Michele Kang at the helm, the Bromley-based side are tipped for a mid-table finish at the first time of asking.Bolstered by some huge new additions, London City – the league’s first fully-independent club – begin their debut campaign against European champions Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.And they are relishing the challenge.Midfielder Julia Roddar told SunSport: “I can’t wait to play there. It’s great, you know, the first game we’re going to be ready for the best. “So we’re really excited about playing that game and also playing at that stadium. “We’ll have our fans with us and we’re excited to start off against a really good opponent.”CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSLondon City have made some huge new additions to their squad this summer in a bid to keep up with their new rivals.Arguably the biggest – and perhaps most surprising – player to have joined is 23-year-old Spain defender Jana Fernandez, who featured for La Roja at Euro 2025 this summer.The three-time Champions League winner had her Barcelona contract mutually terminated last month so that club officials could save money on their wage bill.As a result, Fernandez joined the Lionesses on a free transfer. Among the other names to have committed to the WSL newcomers are Netherlands international Danielle van de Donk, England forward Nikita Parris, former Manchester City defender Alanna Kennedy and ex-Manchester United captain Katie Zelem.Despite the volume of changes, there is a strong belief that those new additions will play a major part in securing safety this term.Roddar said: “To play with such good players, it’s a privilege to move forward in this club. “They have settled in very well and you can see that all of them are very talented football players and I think they will bring all the experience they have. “It will be exciting and I hope we can all come together and play good football.”GettyMidfielder Julia Roddar joined the club last summer[/caption]Kang has big ambitions for the Lionesses – and high expectations for their first time in the top division.Just moments after her team secured promotion in May, Kang declared: “We have been building a team to be, at a minimum, on day one, mid-tier WSL.“When I first came a lot of people were very concerned for me, asking, as an independent team: ‘How can you do this because you don’t have a men’s team from which you can draw the equity, the brand power and the fanbase?’“As an independent team, to accomplish this in one year, is proof that with proper investment and resources anything is possible. This is proof, we are only going up.”Shutterstock EditorialThe Lionesses play their home matches at Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane[/caption]Finishing sixth or above is a huge ask for a team that has never played at the very top level before – especially with many players in the squad having never experienced the league.However, the Lionesses are taking everything in their stride and feel satisfied with the high expectations.“I would say that we’re comfortable with that,” Roddar continued. “I have always tried to win games.“I never go into a game not wanting to win, so having that pressure on, it’s good.“That makes me want to be a better player every day.”