Only a select group of British footballers have moved for a world-record transfer fee.
Alan Shearer when he joined Newcastle United for £15million back in 1995 and Gareth Bale when he swapped London for Madrid in 2013 for £86million, were the only two in the last half century. That was until one of England's Euro 2022 heroes moved for a world record fee in the women's game at the end of summer.
Keira Walsh moved from WSL contenders Manchester City to Barcelona for a fee of around £400,000 making her the most expensive female footballer on the planet. The move came after a hugely successful eight years at City, where the midfielder became renowned for her quick feet, tough tackling and intelligence in possession.
Her ability as a deep-lying playmaker clearly impressed the European giants who swooped in only weeks after Walsh had set-up Ella Toone with a pinpoint pass to open the scoring in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley. Chelsea were also interested but Walsh's heart was set on a move to Spain, having grown up watching iconic Barca teams with her dad Peter.
It came as a blow to City, where Walsh won eight major trophies and clocked up 211 appearances. But Barca had got their number one target and she signed on September 7, just a day before the transfer deadline.
So how has one of England's best players fared since swapping Manchester for the Catalan captial?
Domestic dominance
Walsh has made a fine start to life at Blaugrana, as her new team have made an unbeaten start to 2022-23, flying high at the top of Liga F, Spain's equivalent to the WSL. The Lioness may have joined an all-conquering side that have won the Spanish league in each of the last three seasons and been in three of the last four Champions League finals, winning the competition for the first-ever time in 2021.
But she has not looked out of place. In fact, the midfielder almost instantly looked just as vital to Barca as she does to the England national side.
Despite an initial bump in the road when her planned debut against Levante Las Planas was called off due to a referee strike, Walsh took to the field in Spain for the first time in a 2-0 win over UD Granadilla Tenerife. Walsh immediately looked composed on the ball unphased by her new surroundings, although did speak after the game about "finding her feet and getting more confidence" as she settled in.
She has continued to impress since, maintaining her place for all 11 league games. The highlight came in early November, and the first El Classico of the season away to Real Madrid. Barcelona's great rivals had also brought in WSL talent over the summer, signing Scottish star Caroline Weir from Manchester City and were expected to offer a serious challenge in the league this season.
But Walsh and her new teammates, including fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze, were just far too good dominating from the off and taking the lead inside five minutes through Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic. Three more goals came with Walsh heavily involved as Barca suffocated the home sides' midfield.
In a team of world class players, the 25-year-old already looked right at home with the Catalan side moving clear at the top of Liga F and well on course for a fourth straight title. Meanwhile, in Europe's premier competition Walsh's stock has continued to rise.
Loving the big European nights
Barca were heading for a top of the group showdown with Bayern Munich after two wins from two in their opening UEFA Women's Champions League games. It also gave Walsh the chance to reunite with her midfield partner from the summer and her previous club, Georgia Stanway.
Stanway had also made the move overseas in the summer, joining the German giants from City. But in front of a 46,967 crowd at the Nou Camp it was Walsh who stole the show.
Pulling the strings as Barca dominated Bayern and Stanway, the England midfielder helped her side ease to a 3-0 win with Geyse Ferreira, Aitana Bonmatí and Clàudia Pina getting the goals. If one performance could sum up her time in Spain so far this was it - keeping the ball for fun whilst helping her side maintain an aggressive press.
Walsh may have blown the previous women's transfer record out of the water with her groundbreaking move. Chelsea's signing of Pernille Harder in the summer of 2020 was the previous record, the Blues paying Wolfsburg around £250,000.
But right now she is justifying her eye-watering price tag, helping Barcelona to a superb start to the season that sees them 12 points clear at the top of the league and on-course more meetings with Europe's best clubs in the Champions League knockout stage. Keep this form up and it will take a lot more than £400,000 to bring her home to the WSL.
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