The opening of the Women's Super League (WSL) January transfer window has once again reignited rumors that Keira Walsh could join Arsenal.
The midfielder's contract with Liga F giants Barcelona expires this summer and it is understood that she is looking for a new club. The 27-year-old originally signed for the Catalan club following England's success in winning Euro 2022, leaving Manchester City for a then world record fee of £400,000.
After speculation first began in 2023, 90 min examines the timeline of the report to weigh up the likelihood of Walsh being linked to north London…
News of a possible move to Arsenal by Walsh first began in the summer of 2023, following reports from Arsenal correspondent Tim Stillman.
Stillman told Arseblog News: “Arsenal wanted a defensive midfielder all summer. I was told at the start of the window that Keira Walsh was a serious target, but it was a complicated deal to do for obvious reasons.”
However, after signing a three-year deal with Barcelona in the summer of 2022, a move to the Gunners was out of the question at the moment.
The club then went on to seal a one-day deal with Australia's Kyra Cooney-Cross, ending their search for a defensive midfielder during the 2023 summer window.
Rumors surfaced once again a year later, then Athletics reported that Arsenal continued to maintain their interest in Walsh.
“Barcelona see Walsh as an important part of their squad and would demand a huge transfer fee from Arsenal if they pursue the midfielder,” they detailed. “Indeed, the north London club may be interested, but whether a fee or contract can be agreed is another matter.”
The news comes just weeks before the Gunners agreed a deal with Walsh's Barcelona team-mate Mariona Caldentey, who left after 10 years.
Declan Rice has been seen training with the England star amid Arsenal transfer links #AFC https://t.co/XQyVZgIWYO
— Arsenal FC News (@ArsenalFC_fl) July 29, 2024
The social media row was abuzz as Walsh was spotted at a summer training camp with Arsenal and England star Declan Rice. The midfield counterparts were spotted training hard in the Dubai heat, reigniting rumors of a potential move to north London.
The most notable twist in the saga came when it was confirmed that Barcelona had officially rejected a world-record bid from Arsenal in the closing stages of the 2024 summer window.
Arsenal had made a desperate bid of £930,000, which Barcelona firmly rejected. The sum would have once again made Walsh the most expensive transfer in women's football history, a feat Barcelona had achieved just two years earlier for less than half the price.
“There is no chance that Keira will leave. She has been with us throughout pre-season and is a key player for us,” said Barcelona coach Pere Romeu.
Despite the insistence of the Spanish teams that Walsh will finish her contract in Spain, BBC Sport reported that the England star “has already informed the club that she does not intend to extend (in the summer) because she wants to return home for personal reasons”.
Despite the failed bid, the matter looked far from over when the midfielder was spotted in the stands for the WSL season opener between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.
Fans reignited their speculation as Walsh sat alongside Leah Williamson's family during the match.
While there is no further speculation that Walsh is bound for a move to north London during the current transfer window, there is a strong case as to why the move could be plausible.
Arsenal are now entering the business end of the 2024/25 season. They are preparing for the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Women's Champions League, while debuts in both the Adobe Women's FA Cup and the League Cup are on the horizon. Currently seven points adrift of Chelsea at the top of the WSL table, the league seems unlikely, however the club will surely be keen to seal a place in the top three and secure European qualification.
Because of this, Arsenal would be missing out on a huge opportunity if they did not retain their interest in Walsh. The closing stages of last year saw Renee Slegers pressed for defensive midfield options after Kim Little and Lia Walti were sidelined with injuries. This meant that Cooney-Cross and Caldentey were forced to drop deep, and although it worked, this is not at all desirable for the future.
Playing Caldentey deep in midfield is a good option, but it also means she can't work her magic further up the field. Little and Walti have been notoriously injury-prone, so Walsh's arrival could significantly strengthen the Gunners' midfield.
If Barcelona are convinced he is not for sale, Arsenal may have to hedge their bets and wait until the summer to snap up Walsh on a free. But as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world as a free agent, she may just fall out of favor if they don't act now.