The final English participant to have the world switch document? Not Jack Grealish, Rio Ferdinand and even Alan Shearer.
The reply is Keira Walsh, her transfer from Manchester Metropolis to Barcelona in 2022 was, on the time, the most costly switch within the girls’s recreation, with the payment exchanged between golf equipment coming in at £400,000.
However why did Walsh value the Catalan giants a lot, and simply how did she develop into one one of the best gamers England has produced in recent times ? Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential to learn about Keira Walsh.
Keira Walsh: Her profession to date
Keira Walsh after signing for Barcelona (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
With a world title, two Champions Leagues and three home championships, Walsh is without doubt one of the most embellished English gamers of latest instances.
The midfield maestro began her profession with hometown membership Blackburn Rovers, solely to usually characteristic in defence in her youth workforce days. Though she made the grade at Rovers, debuting in a Norther Premier League defeat to Sheffield in 2014, Walsh was signed by Manchester Metropolis later that yr.
Walsh and Lucy Bronze had been essential to England profitable Euro 2022 (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
A Metropolis supporter, Walsh virtually immediately grew to become an necessary participant for Metropolis regardless of having simply signed her first professional contract. Nick Cushing’s aspect received the League Cup that very same season – Walsh’s first silverware.
After an harm hit 2015 season, Walsh was again to her finest in time for the 2016 marketing campaign the place Metropolis received all three home trophies – the WSL, League Cup and FA Cup.
Walsh was dominant in a 4-1 FA Cup last win over Birmingham, named participant of the match.
Her working the midfield at Wembley can be an indication of issues to come back.
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As a deep-lying playmaker in Phil Neville’s Lionesses workforce on the 2019 World Cup, Walsh did obtain criticism in some quarters for not directing the play like she did at Metropolis.
Nonetheless, any doubts over her potential to carry out on the worldwide stage had been really blown away three years later on the subsequent worldwide match when England hosted the Euros.
At Euro 2022, Walsh was the Lionesses’ finest participant – beginning each recreation and taking part in all however 5 minutes of England’s match. Within the quarter-finals towards Spain she managed to quieten a number of the finest midfielders on this planet, together with future Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.
Then at Wembley within the last, Walsh utterly bossed reverse quantity Lena Oberdorf and performed the cross of the match for Ella Toone’s opening objective. The midfielder was named participant of the match and included in UEFA’s workforce of the match.
Keira Walsh was excellent all through Euro 2022 (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Inside weeks of turning into a European champion, Walsh was wished by each Barcelona and WSL rivals Chelsea, selecting to maneuver to the previous for that world document payment.
Linking up with teammate Lucy Bronze, Walsh instantly checked out dwelling in one of the best membership midfield on this planet, capping her first season in Spain with a Champions League last win, serving to Barcelona to a dramatic comeback win over Wolfsburg.
After serving to Barca to a different league title and Champions League in 2024, Walsh is broadly revered as probably the greatest holding midfielders on this planet. Absolutely a Ballon d’Or nomination will come sooner or later.
