Barcelona have rejected a bid for England international Keira Walsh before the Women's Super League (WSL) transfer window closed on Friday, a source has confirmed to ESPN.
Sources told ESPN that both Arsenal and Chelsea had expressed interest in signing Walsh this summer, with reports suggesting the bid had come from the former and would have broken the transfer record in women's football.
Catalan media say the offer amounted to 1.1 million euros ($1.2 million), significantly higher than the record 800,000 euros set when Zambian forward Racheal Kundananji joined the National Women's Football League. [NWSL] side Bay FC from Madrid CFF earlier this year.
A source told ESPN that Barca had “no intention” of letting Walsh go and that all interested parties were referred to the midfielder's €3m release clause.
Barca's firm stance comes despite Walsh, who joined the club for a world-record fee of €400,000 from Manchester City in 2022, being out of contract at the end of the season and potentially leaving as a free agent.
Sources told ESPN that Walsh would have been open to returning to her native England but Barca remain hopeful of convincing her to extend her stay, with one source adding that the back-to-back European champions “don't want to weaken a team that won everything there was to win last season.”
Meanwhile, Walsh started on Friday as Barca beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in their first home game of the season to make it two wins from two in the start of Liga F.
“There is no problem with Keira Walsh,” coach Pere Romeu said in a press conference after that match.
“She has been with us throughout the preseason and is an essential player. She understands our style of play perfectly, she is a very professional player and from day one she has shown a spectacular attitude and commitment to the team. We will continue to count on her this season.”
However, Maria Perez left the club for England on Friday, with Barca confirming that the young midfielder has joined the London City Lionesses on a permanent deal.
The Lionesses play in the Women's Championship, but the addition of Perez, who was part of the Spanish team that won the World Cup last year, shows the level of their ambition.
Owned by Michele Kang, who also owns Lyon and Washington Spirit, the London-based outfit have also signed Swedish internationals Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson to boost their contribution to achieving promotion to the WSL.
Information from ESPN's Emily Keogh contributed to this report.
