England midfielder, Keira Walsh, has said adjusting to life at Chelsea after her move from Barcelona last January was challenging, describing the experience as the “worst feeling”.
The 28-year-old returned to England during the winter transfer window of the 2024-25 season after spending three years at Barcelona.
Although she later helped Chelsea win a domestic treble and finish the Women’s Super League season unbeaten, Walsh admitted that adapting to a new environment midway through the campaign was not easy.
“Nobody likes being the new person at school. It takes time to get over it,” she said.
Walsh arrived at Chelsea with vast experience at club and international level. Before moving to Spain, she spent eight seasons at Manchester City, winning the WSL once, three FA Cups and four League Cups.
During her time at Barcelona, she won the Champions League twice, Liga F three times and the Spanish Cup twice.
She has also recorded success with England, winning the European Championship in 2022 and 2025.
Despite her achievements, Walsh said the transition back to English football after her spell in Spain required time.
“You don’t have a lot of time to get your life together, and I was moving from one country to another,” she said.
“I’d gone from one completely different style of football back to England.
“You don’t have that pre-season to get to know the players or the style. And you don’t get a grace period.”
Chelsea remain active in several competitions this season. The team will face Manchester United in the League Cup final at Ashton Gate in Bristol.
They are also through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will play Arsenal later this month, while a meeting with Tottenham awaits them in the FA Cup in April.
Walsh said the team still has the opportunity to end the season with more trophies despite challenges in the league campaign.
“It’s very difficult to win the league every year consecutively,” she said.
“It’s almost unheard of, that’s what is special about Chelsea.
“We still have the EFL Cup, the FA Cup and Champions League. If we win all three, that will still be a special season.”
(BBC)
