Man City star leaves for Barcelona in new world-record deal

Midfielder Kiera Walsh has become the world’s most expensive women’s player after departing Manchester City for Barcelona.
Keira Walsh becomes the world’s most expensive women’s player with her move to Barcelona. Keira Walsh becomes the world’s most expensive women’s player with her move to Barcelona.
Keira Walsh becomes the world’s most expensive women’s player with her move to Barcelona.

Kiera Walsh has left Manchester City and joined Barcelona for a world-record fee. The midfielder has signed a three-year deal with the Catalan side.

The England international recently entered the final year of her contract with the Sky Blues and has now departed after eight years with the club.

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Barcelona have broken the record fee paid for a women’s footballer by some distance, with the Catalan team believed to have paid £400,000 for the 25-year-old.

The previous record fee paid for a women’s player was £250,000 when Chelsea bought Danish international Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg in 2020.

Walsh departs City after eight years at the club and having made 211 appearances. Credit: Getty. Walsh departs City after eight years at the club and having made 211 appearances. Credit: Getty.
Walsh departs City after eight years at the club and having made 211 appearances. Credit: Getty.

Walsh made 211 appearances in all competitions for City, scoring eight goals and came sixth in the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award last season.

She helped guide the Sky Blues to eight trophies, including one Women’s Super League title and three FA Cups.

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The midfielder was part of the Lionesses’ historic 2022 European Championship win this summer, starting in all six of their games and registering three assists.

Her performances for England in the competition earned her a spot in the Team of the Tournament, alongside three other Lionesses stars.

Walsh was part of the Lionesses team that won this summer’s European Championships. Credit: Getty. Walsh was part of the Lionesses team that won this summer’s European Championships. Credit: Getty.
Walsh was part of the Lionesses team that won this summer’s European Championships. Credit: Getty.

Walsh, who grew up supporting City as a child, took to Instagram to address her departure from the Academy Stadium.

The 25-year-old posted a half-and-half picture of her as a child in a Sky Blues kit and one of present day with a caption: “Thank you City.”

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Walsh joins Lucy Bronze in leaving City for Barcelona this summer. The latter signed for the Catalan side after the expiry of her Sky Blues contract.

The former could make her debut for Barcelona in their opening Primera Division clash against Granadilla Tenerife on Saturday.