Keira Walsh closing in on sensational transfer deadline day move to Chelsea from Barcelona
KEIRA WALSH is set to become Chelsea’s latest high profile signing with the club closing in on a deadline day swoop for England ace.
The midfielder, previously linked with Arsenal, is set to join the WSL giants four days after they signed USA defender Naomi Girma.
The Blues have agreed a transfer fee of £500,000 with Walsh’s current side Barcelona, according to Sky Sports.
The former Man City ace is due to have a medical with Chelsea aiming to seal their deal before today’s January transfer deadline.
The England star will be eligible to feature for Sonia Bompastor’s team in the Champions League knockout phase with the quarter-finals taking place in March.
Chelsea’s signing of Walsh will be a massive coup for the team who are currently top of the Women’s Super League and chasing an eighth top-flight title win.
Last September reports in Spain claimed WSL rivals had a record transfer bid for the midfielder rejected
The Rochdale-born player, who began her senior club career at Blackburn Rovers at the age of 16, has evolved into one of the sports’s most gifted midfielders.
The player, who grew up watching Spanish football, played a key role in helping Manchester City win the WSL title in 2016 in the second year of her eight-year stint at the club.
And after joining Barcelona in September 2022, for a then world record £400,000 fee, Walsh has gone on to become an integral part of the LaLiga giants.
In addition to making 54 top flight appearances for the club whose stars include Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, the midfielder lifted eight major titles.
Her silverware wins include two Champions League trophies, two La Liga Women’s titles and three Spanish Super Cups.
The midfielder was also among the nominees for last year’s Fifa best women’s player of the year gong which was awarded to Bonmati.
Since providing an assist on her senior England debut in a 5-0 World Cup qualifier defeat of Kazakhstan, Walsh has also shone on the international stage.
The midfielder started in every single one of the Lionesses’ matches during the 2022 Women’s Euros.
Among her tournament highlights was a standout pass that led to Ella Toone’s opening goal in their 2-1 tournament final defeat of Germany at Wembley.
And she is in strong contention for a place in Sarina Wiegman’s squad ahead of this year’s Euros in July.
Walsh’s impending Blues move comes two and a half years on from Chelsea being linked with the player prior to her Barcelona move.
The club made headlines earlier this month by signing Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave for a record breaking US$1.1million dollar fee
Walsh’s switch will see her become the second England star the Blues have signed from Barcelona following Lucy Bronze joining as a free agent in July last year.