Keira Walsh completes Barcelona transfer for world record fee

Barcelona Femini have confirmed the signing of England midfielder Keira Walsh from Manchester City.

Walsh, who became a Euro 2022 champion this summer and was named in the team of the tournament for her exploits with the Lionesses, has signed a three-year contract until 2025.

90min revealed on Tuesday that Barça were confident of completing the deal ahead of Wednesday night’s Spanish transfer deadline, having already reached an agreement in principle over personal with Walsh and her representatives.

The agreed fee, reported in Spain late on Tuesday to be €400,000 (£344,000), sets a new world record for a transfer in women’s football, smashing the previous mark when Pernille Harder swapped Wolfsburg for Chelsea in 2020.

Walsh played for England on Tuesday in a 10-0 Word Cup qualifying win over Luxembourg. She will link up with her new Barcelona teammates in the coming days once released from international duty.

Having made her senior club debut at 17, Walsh established herself as a key player for Manchester City as a 20-year-old in 2017 and has become increasingly important for England in recent years.

Now 25, she is widely recognised as one of the best central midfielders in the world and Barcelona have been keen to add her to their ranks as they seek to strengthen and reclaim their crown in the Champions League after losing last season’s final to Lyon.

The Catalans will be without captain Alexia Putellas for the majority of this season and have also lost striker Jenni Hermoso to Pachuca in Mexico.

But right-back Lucy Bronze has already made the switch from Manchester City this summer, while Walsh has also seen former midfield partners Caroline Weir and Georgia Stanway leave Manchester for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.

Manchester City are no longer able to offer Champions League football this season, having been knocked out in the first qualifying round by Real Madrid - Weir scored the decisive goal.

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