Keira Walsh is back! Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor confirms Lionesses midfielder will make return from injury in Champions League clash with Man City after missing League Cup final

The midfielder, who made the switch from Barcelona in January, has been sidelined since Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Brighton in the Women’s Super League. Despite hopes of featuring in the Women’s League Cup final, Walsh was unable to recover in time and had to watch from the stands as Chelsea edged past Manchester City with a 2-1 victory.

In a positive sign for Chelsea fans, Walsh was recently seen training with the rest of the squad. The club’s social media channels even shared an image of the midfielder in a training kit to hint that she has completed her recovery.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Bompastor revealed that Walsh has regained fitness and is available for selection ahead of the crucial Champions League quarter-final against City.

Walsh's return to English football earlier this year marked a major transfer coup for Chelsea. She had left City for Barcelona in 2022 for what was then a world-record transfer fee of £400,000. Her time in Spain was hugely successful, as she helped Barca win back-to-back Champions League titles, along with two Liga F championships. Despite her achievements in Spain, Walsh was eager to return to England for personal reasons, particularly to be closer to her family. Chelsea capitalised on the opportunity to bring her back, and her presence in midfield was quickly felt before her injury setback.

The first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final is scheduled for Wednesday evening, where Walsh could make her much-anticipated return to the pitch. However, the challenges don’t stop there. Just three days later, Chelsea will once again face City - this time in a massive WSL showdown. The two clubs will then meet for the second leg of their European tie on March 27, completing a defining stretch of games between the two sides.