Sources: Chelsea chase Walsh before deadline

Chelsea are eager to complete the signing of England star Keira Walsh before the transfer deadline shuts in the Women's Super League on Thursday, sources have told ESPN.

Walsh's contract is up at the end of the season and Arsenal were heavily linked with her last summer. However, sources have told ESPN that Chelsea have moved quickly and are optimistic of getting the deal across the line on Thursday.

The deal will require a transfer fee given the time remaining on her existing deal with Barcelona, but Chelsea are looking to bolster their options in centre-midfield for the rest of the season and have turned to the Lionesses star.

If the move goes through, Walsh would join Chelsea just days after they paid a world-record fee to sign Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave. Walsh would be another big-name recruit for Sonia Bompastor's ambitious Chelsea side.

Arsenal for so long were seen to be Walsh's inevitable destination at the end of the season. They've been heavily linked with her since last summer and submitted a bid for her in September, but Chelsea moved quickly in this window. It is the second time this window that Chelsea have trumped Arsenal this month after they saw off competition from Arsenal and Lyon to secure the signing of Girma.

Walsh moved to Barcelona from Manchester City in 2022 for a world-record fee, understood to be in the region of £350,000. Walsh won back-to-back Champions League and Spanish league titles at Barcelona and the club appeared reluctant to let her leave in this window, but Chelsea's persistence has seemingly done enough.

Walsh has found herself part of the usual Barcelona rotation this season, but was left on the bench for their bigger tasks, such as the Supercopa final on Sunday where she only played the last five minutes in their 5-0 win against Real Madrid.