Keira Fae Walsh (born 8 April 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester City and England. Walsh became a first-team regular at Manchester City during their 2014 campaign, playing a key role in the team securing the Continental Cup.[3] She represented England for their age-group teams before making her senior debut in 2017. She was part of the team that won the UEFA Women's Euro 2022, and was named Player of the Match in the final.
![]() Walsh with England in 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Keira Fae Walsh[1] | |||||||||||||||
Date of birth | (1997-04-08) 8 April 1997 (age 25) | |||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Rochdale, England[2] | |||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.67 m)[1] | |||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||
Club information | ||||||||||||||||
Current team | Manchester City | |||||||||||||||
Number | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
Blackburn Rovers | ||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
2014– | Manchester City | 114 | (6) | |||||||||||||
National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||
2010–2012 | England U15 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||
2013 | England U17 | 9 | (1) | |||||||||||||
2014–2016 | England U19 | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||
2017– | England U23 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||
2017– | England | 48 | (0) | |||||||||||||
2021– | Great Britain | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||
Honours
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:18, 2 April 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:40, 31 July 2022 (UTC) |
Walsh, born and raised in Rochdale, played for local side Pearson Juniors before joining Blackburn Rovers. She joined Manchester City, the team her family supported, in 2014.[4] She attended Haslingden High School and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School Sixth Form, both in Rossendale.[5]
In July 2014, Walsh made her senior debut for Manchester City as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Notts County. She played an important role in City's 2014 Continental Cup-winning side and became a first-team regular towards the end of the season. In June 2015, she signed her first senior contract with the club.[6] On 9 November 2016, Walsh scored her first goal in a 1–0 victory against Brøndby IF in the Champions League last 16 first leg tie.[7] Two days later, she extended her contract with City.[8]
Prior to the 2019–20 season, Walsh handed in a transfer request amid interest from Olympique Lyonnais and Atlético Madrid.[9] On 29 July, she withdrew her transfer request.[10] Walsh was given a straight red card for a tackle on Kirsty Hanson in Manchester City's 2–0 loss to Manchester United in the League Cup on 20 October 2019.[11] Walsh signed a new three-year contract on 7 February 2020.[12]
In November 2009, Walsh, aged 12, received her first call-up to the under-15 squad.[13] In November 2013, she was named in the squad for the UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship, where she helped England through to the knockout stages, and a fourth-place finish in the competition.[14]
In November 2017, Walsh was called up the senior England squad.[15]
In 2019, Walsh was part of the England team that won the SheBelieves Cup in the United States.[16] Later that year, Walsh was selected as part of England's World Cup squad.[17] As part of England's social-media facing squad announcement, her name was announced by DJ Monki.[18] After heavy criticism during the World Cup, she considered quitting football, but worked with sports psychologists. She was part of the Great Britain women's football team at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo in 2021.[19]
In July 2022 Walsh was included in the England squad which won the UEFA Women's Euro 2022, providing the pass for England's first goal by Ella Toone in the 62nd minute of the Final against Germany.[20][21] She was named player of the match in the final.[22]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup[lower-alpha 1] | League Cup[lower-alpha 2] | Europe[lower-alpha 3] | Other | Total | |||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Manchester City | 2014 | WSL 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
2015 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
2016 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 20 | 1 | |||
2017 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
2017–18 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |||
2018–19 | WSL | 19 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
2019–20 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 28 | 2 | |||
2020–21 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
2021–22 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |||
Career total | 114 | 6 | 20 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 197 | 8 |
Manchester City[24]
England
Individual
Manchester City W.F.C. – current squad | |
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International tournaments | |||||||||||||
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