Barcelona and Manchester City agree world-record £400,000 for Keira Walsh
Barcelona close to breaking resolve of Manchester City who have twice rejected bids from Spaniards for the midfielder
Keira Walsh – Barcelona and Manchester City agree world-record £400,000 for Keira Walsh
Keira Walsh is close to joining former Manchester City team-mate Lucy Bronze in Spain
Barcelona have agreed a world-record fee of just over £400,000 to sign Manchester City and England midfielder Keira Walsh, although personal terms are still to be agreed between the clubs.
Barcelona have until 11pm (BST) on Wednesday to complete the deal before the Spanish transfer window closes, a day earlier than the end of business in the Women’s Super League.
The world-record transfer fee in women’s football currently stands at around £250,000, for Chelsea’s of Denmark star Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg in 2020.
Telegraph Sport understands that Manchester City have previously rejected three bids from Barcelona for Walsh who is in the final year of her contract, and did not want to sell but have reluctantly agreed to the sale given the size of the fee. Gareth Taylor’s side are understood to be working on signing replacements ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.
If she agrees personal terms then Walsh, who started every game of England Women’s victorious Euros campaign in July, would join former Manchester City team-mate Lucy Bronze, who joined Barcelona this summer on a free transfer.
Walsh has been a mainstay in the City team ever since making her debut as a 17-year-old eight years ago. She played for England in Tuesday’s 10-0 win over Luxembourg amid widespread speculation about her future and Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman praised Walsh for her “full focus” when speaking after the game.
Walsh is widely seen as being among the best holding midfielders in the world and she was named as the ‘player of the match’ at July’s Women’s Euros final, when England beat Germany 2-1 after extra time, providing the assist for Ella Toone’s opening goal in the final. She also represented Great Britain at last year’s Olympic Games.
Barcelona’s need for a midfielder was heightened after Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury over the summer and is expected to miss most of the upcoming season.
