Chelsea are understood to be in talks with Barcelona regarding a stunning deal for Keira Walsh, reportedly worth £400,000.
Walsh is set to head to London for a medical later on Thursday.
The 27-year-old is out of contract in the summer and is eager to embrace a return to the Women’s Super League.
She began her professional career at Blackburn Rovers before making a significant move to Manchester City in 2014.
During her time at City, she played a huge role in the team’s success, securing numerous titles, including the Women’s Super League title in 2016.
Barca paid Man City a world-record £400,000 transfer fee to bring the England midfielder to Spain in 2022.
Since then Walsh has celebrated remarkable success, including consecutive league and European titles.
She also played a crucial role in the England squad that triumphed as European champions in 2022, delivering a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory against Germany, where she was named Player of the Match.
Walsh made her debut for England back in 2017 and has since made an impressive 80 international appearances.
Walsh’s desire to join the likes of Chelsea for her WSL return is understandable.
They are among the most successful clubs in English women’s football, having claimed a record seven Women’s Super League titles, as well as holding the second-highest number of outright league championships after Arsenal.
But Chelsea’s ambitious transfer business does not end with Walsh.
Earlier this week, the Blues announced the signing of Naomi Girma.
The 24-year-old signed a contract until the summer of 2029 and smashed a huge transfer record in the process.
Her arrival from San Diego Wave for a jaw-dropping £900,000 set a new world record for a female footballer.
It obliterated the previous record of £685,000 set by Bay FC’s signing of Racheal Kundananji last February.
She was also part of the gold-medal-winning USA squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In other WSL news, Walsh’s former Man City teammate Chloe Kelly stirred the transfer rumours last night with an emotional statement on social media.
The England forward expressed her desire ‘to be happy again’ as she seeks a move away from City before Thursday’s deadline.
Kelly has only made one Women’s Super League start for City this season.
With the European Championship in Switzerland this summer, she is determined to secure more playing time to help the Lionesses defend their title
According to Sky Sports, Brighton and Manchester United are both showing interest in signing the talented winger.
However, Kelly has voiced her preference to stay in Manchester, due to family ties.
The WSL transfer deadline is 11pm this evening, with plenty of business still to be finalised.
