England international midfielder Keira Walsh has joined Spanish side Barcelona from Manchester City, the Women’s Super League club said on Wednesday, with British media reporting the deal was in place for a world-record fee of around £350,000 ($401,170).
The previous world record women’s transfer was over the £250,000 fee Chelsea paid to sign Denmark’s Pernil Harder from VfL Wolfsburg in 2020.
Walsh, 25, who joined City as a teenager in 2014 and played 211 matches in all competitions for them, has won eight trophies with the club over the years.
She was in the final year of her contract at City, having reportedly rejected previous bids from Spanish champions Barca.
A versatile player who can act as a playmaker or a defensive midfielder, Walsh was part of the England team that captured the Women’s European Championship this year and was part of the tournament’s squad.
“Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Keira for her contribution to the club and wish her the very best for her future,” City said in a statement.
England internationals Lucy Bronze and Georgia Stanaway as well as Scotland’s Caroline Weir have all left the city in recent months, while Karen Bardsley, Ellen White and Jill Scott have retired.
City were third in the 2021–22 WSL season behind champions Chelsea and second-placed Arsenal. Barcelona won the Spanish league last season and finished runners-up in the Champions League.
($1 = 0.8724 pounds)
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