Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Barcelona’s England midfielder Keira Walsh on the Women’s Super League’s transfer deadline day.
Sources at Barcelona said the fee was £800,000, including add-ons, but sources at Chelsea said the basic fee was lower.
Barcelona had been unwilling to sell but it is believed Chelsea’s bid was accepted late on Wednesday, and Walsh was due in London for a medical on Thursday.
The 27-year-old, who left Manchester City to join Barcelona for a then world record fee of £400,000 in 2022, was keen to return to England to be close to family.
The fee is believed to be under the world record transfer Chelsea paid for USA defender Naomi Girma earlier this month.
Chelsea’s interest in Walsh has been long-standing and the club have been looking to bolster their midfield options since the summer.
Walsh told Barcelona in September that she did not wish to extend her contract, with it due to expire in six months’ time.
Arsenal had maintained their interest but Walsh’s preference has always appeared to lean towards Chelsea.
It is another huge signing for Chelsea with Walsh becoming the second most expensive female footballer in the world.
During her time at Barcelona, Walsh has won back-to-back league titles and the Champions League.
