Record-breaker: England’s Keira Walsh is the most-expensive player in the history of women’s football
(Picture: Getty Images)Watching Keira Walsh on the pitch, it does not take long to work out why the England midfielder is the most expensive player in the history of women’s football.
Walsh ran the show last Friday, as England beat world champions USA 2-1 at Wembley, showing why Barcelona paid around £400,000 to sign her from Manchester City last month.
Speak to Walsh off the pitch, though, and you would have no idea of her world-record status. The 25-year-old is incredibly grounded and there is no chance of her getting carried away by her new-found fame.
“I’ve not thought about it too much,” says Walsh of her price-tag. “I think learning Spanish is the most important thing for me right now! I am just focusing on settling in and getting used to the way Barcelona play.”
Walsh’s move, which happened on transfer deadline day last month, was a dream one for the midfielder. Growing up, she would watch Spanish football on TV with her dad, particularly Barca, and that style of play has influenced how Walsh wants to approach the game now. She likes to get on the ball and dictate the tempo of the game — a rarity for English midfielders — and she is convinced moving will only make her better.
“I never thought I’d be playing for Barcelona,” she adds. “It is such a historic club, and I think the way they play football, it is more than that, it is a culture.
“I just feel really honoured to be a part of it and I am learning every day in training. They are unbelievable players and just playing next to them is a real privilege.
“The intensity of training, people don’t give the girls that are there enough credit for how aggressive they are and how well they press. Obviously everyone speaks about how good they are on the ball, but for me the biggest thing I noticed is that when I am on the ball I don’t get a lot of time.
“I think that’ll make me play even quicker and, as I said, just learning off them and the coach, how they play, is only going to make me even better as a midfielder. I am really enjoying it at the minute and, hopefully, it will take my game to the next level.”
Walsh’s game going up a gear will be music to England head coach Sarina Wiegman’s ears, as she looks ahead to next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Lionesses are on a 23-game unbeaten run under Wiegman and tonight they head back to Brighton, where they enjoyed two memorable wins during Euro 2022 this summer, to take on the Czech Republic.
“It’s amazing to be going back,” says Walsh. “I think all of these grounds we are playing in, it is nice to have the home reception after winning the Euros. It is really important for us to give back to the fans who supported us and, hopefully, we can keep them coming back, and keep putting on exciting performances for them.”
