Man City star leaves for Barcelona in new world-record deal
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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Hide AdBarcelona 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 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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Hide AdThe 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, 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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Hide AdWalsh 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.