has signed for on a four-and-a-half yr deal after the Blues accomplished a serious deadline day transfer for the England and Barcelona midfielder.
Walsh, 27, had entered the ultimate six months of her contract at Barcelona and had signalled that she wouldn’t renew with the Spanish aspect, however has dedicated her future to Chelsea and indicators a deal till 2029.
In keeping with reviews, Chelsea agreed a £460,000 price to make Walsh their second blockbuster signing this month, following .
Walsh, who moved to Barcelona from for , was beforehand linked to and the Gunners had one other world-record bid for her turned down final yr.
At Stamford Bridge, Walsh will as soon as once more be a part of forces with England team-mate Lucy Bronze, whom she gained the Champions League alongside in 2023 and 2024.
Below , Chelsea are unbeaten in all competitions this season and are aiming to win the Champions League for the primary time this yr. The Blues additionally maintain a seven-point lead on the prime of the Girls’s Tremendous League as they goal to win a sixth consecutive title.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m very comfortable to be right here and really excited to get began,” Walsh stated. “You take a look at the historical past of the trophies Chelsea have gained and I’m an formidable participant and particular person, so for me, it’s a good match.
“Chatting with [head of women’s football] Paul Inexperienced, Sonia and Camille [Abily, Chelsea’s assistant coach], I simply acquired such a great feeling from them. It has been actually optimistic. I need to play for this membership and battle for the badge.’
The signing of Walsh, a European champion with the Lionesses in 2022 and top-of-the-line midfielders on the earth, is an extra assertion of intent from the Blues.
‘Keira is a participant who will add enormous worth to an already gifted squad,” stated Inexperienced. “She has huge expertise on the highest stage, profitable main honours at each home and worldwide stage.
”‘She is a composed defensive midfielder, with glorious technical attributes and world class soccer intelligence. Her enjoying model and skill to dictate the tempo of the sport will likely be essential to our recreation mannequin as we transfer ahead.”
US worldwide Girma, the primary million-dollar switch within the girls’s recreation, was unveiled at Stamford Bridge final weekend. The 24-year-old centre-back was signed for a reported £900,000 as Chelsea noticed off competitors from Lyon.