Keira Walsh may be one of the brightest midfield minds in women’s football, but even she admits London is still a work in progress. A year after returning to England with Chelsea, the former Barcelona star says she still does not know the capital intimately well. Now, she has a former teammate and new rival in town to explore it with.
A reunion that adds spice to the WSL
That teammate is Alexia Putellas, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner who has joined London City Lionesses in one of the most eye-catching moves of the summer. The switch has instantly added another layer of intrigue to the Women’s Super League race, with Putellas’ new club pushing Chelsea and Manchester City at the top end of the table.
Walsh says the two have already stayed in touch since the move became public. “She messaged me a little bit and then said, ‘Maybe I’ll see you in London soon’ and I said, ‘I think you might do!’” Walsh told FourFourTwo. “We’re actually going to meet for dinner from time to time, so it’ll be nice to catch up.”
Friends off the pitch, rivals on it
For all the friendship, Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash on December 13 now carries extra edge. Walsh and Putellas will line up on opposite sides, but the Chelsea midfielder insists the competitive tension will not change the respect between them.
“I’m going to be facing her but she’s a friend, a really great team-mate and a good captain,” Walsh said. “First and foremost, I do want her to be successful. I want her to have a really good year here.”
It is the kind of storyline that the WSL has been eager to promote: elite talent, familiar faces, and a title race with real momentum. When world-class players move into the league, the ripple effect is immediate.
Putellas’ arrival boosts the league’s global pull
Walsh has been a visible part of that growth herself. Her move back to England from Barcelona last year was seen as a major statement for Chelsea and for the league overall. Now she believes Putellas’ arrival only strengthens that progress.
“She’s a big name, so fans are going to be looking out for her, but she’s definitely got the talent to back that up,” Walsh said. “I hope she has an impact in the league. To see the likes of Alexia coming over and playing here, it shows where women’s football is at in England.”
The message is clear: the WSL is no longer just a domestic competition with local appeal. It is a destination for some of the best players in the world, and the addition of Putellas underlines that shift.
What Sunday’s clash could mean
Chelsea’s battle with London City Lionesses is already shaping up to be a significant checkpoint in the title picture. With Manchester City also in the mix, every meeting between the front-runners now feels like a potential turning point.
That makes the Walsh-Putellas subplot even more compelling. One is a midfield controller who has settled back into English football with authority. The other is a global icon beginning a new chapter in a league looking to grow even bigger.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Chelsea vs London City Lionesses |
| Date | Sunday, December 13 |
| Key storyline | Keira Walsh facing Alexia Putellas |
| Context | Top-of-the-table WSL encounter |
For Walsh, the personal angle is real, but so is the professional one. She knows exactly what Putellas brings to a team, having shared a dressing room with her at Barcelona. That familiarity makes the rivalry more fascinating, not less.
And if London remains a little unfamiliar for Walsh, Sunday’s meeting ensures at least one thing is clear: the city now belongs to two of the game’s biggest names. Their next meeting may begin with a friendly dinner, but it will end with a fierce fight for points.
“It’s really exciting to have one of the best, if not the best player in the world in our league,” Walsh said.
