Arsenal failed with bid to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to WSL

Arsenal made an unsuccessful bid to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the Women’s Super League during the final days of the transfer window.

The PA news agency understands Arsenal retained a strong interest in the former Manchester City player throughout the window and sought to make a deal happen before Friday’s transfer deadline, but were rebuffed by Barcelona.

Spanish media has reported that Arsenal made a bid worth £930,000 – which would have been a world record transfer in women’s football.

Barcelona paid what was then a world record fee of £400,000 to sign Walsh, 27, from Manchester City in 2022.

The current record is the £685,000 that Bay FC paid Madrid CFF for Zambia star Racheal Kundananji in February this year.

Walsh has a year left on her contract with Barcelona and is expected to leave next summer on a free transfer. She has won back-to-back league and European titles with the club.

Walsh started Barca’s opening game of the season on Friday and had an assist in their 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.