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Cardiff City Ladies are to be renamed Gwalia United from next season.

The club are Wales' only representatives in the English women's football pyramid, playing in the third-tier Southern Premier Division.

Cardiff City Ladies set a place in the Women's Super League as the long-term target following a takeover of the club last September.

They say the name change will be part of the journey towards reaching that goal.

Gwalia is Medieval name for Wales and has also been adopted this season by one of two professional women's rugby teams, Gwalia Lightning.

A club statement said: "This is setting the stage for an unprecedented journey towards competing against the might of teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool in the Women's Super League.

"Our aspirations reach beyond the pitch as we strive to represent Wales with pride at the club level against the elite of English football, sparking a new era of unity, heritage, excellence, pride, resilience and inclusion."

Cardiff City Ladies won the FA Women's National League Division One South West title last season to return to the Southern Premier Division, 12 months after they had been relegated from it.

They are currently seventh in the 12-team division.

Sophie Ingle and Jess Fishlock are among numerous Wales internationals who have previously played for the club.

Cardiff City Ladies are not to be confused with Welsh domestic league and cup champions Cardiff City Women, who are affiliated with the men's Championship club.

They were taken over last year by the Dragons23 consortium, which includes businessmen Damien Singh and Julian Jenkins.

Singh is the chief financial officer of Canva, an online and social media graphics company reportedly valued at more than $20bn.

Cardiff City Ladies, who have had two previous spells in the top tier of English football, have had various names since the club's formation in 1975.

Their current name, adopted in 1999, will officially switch to Gwalia United on 1 June, 2024.