Arsenal’s late attempt to sign England midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona, in what would have been a world-record deal, has been rejected by the European champions.
The 27-year-old, who has one year left on her contract, remains a pivotal part of Barcelona’s squad despite indicating she does not intend to renew her contract next summer.
According to reports from Spanish media, Arsenal‘s bid was valued at £930,000, a figure that would have surpassed the current world record for a women’s transfer.
However, Barcelona were not prepared to let go of the England international, leaving Arsenal without their target as the Women’s Super League (WSL) transfer window closed at 23:00 BST on Friday.
Barcelona, who still had until Monday to secure a replacement if they had accepted the bid, made it clear that Walsh remains integral to their plans for the season.
Barca head coach Pere Romeu underscored Walsh’s importance, saying, “There’s no case for Keira leaving. She’s been with us throughout pre-season and is a key player for us. She totally gets our style of play, is super professional, and has shown an amazing attitude and commitment from day one. So, we’re definitely counting on her this season.”
Walsh, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City in 2022 for a then-world record fee of £400,000, has been instrumental in the club’s recent success, helping them secure back-to-back league and European titles. She has already played a crucial role this season, providing an assist in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Friday.
Despite Walsh’s decision not to renew her contract, Barcelona appear confident in keeping her for the remainder of the season. Without a contract extension, Walsh would likely leave on a free transfer next summer unless the club can convince her otherwise.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Walsh was part of their bid to strengthen their squad, and if successful, it would have marked the most expensive transfer in women’s football. The current record for a women’s player is held by Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji, who transferred to Bay FC from Madrid CFF for £685,000 in February.
As the transfer window closes, Walsh’s immediate future lies with Barcelona, where she will continue to contribute to their ambitious campaign for more domestic and European silverware.