Barcelona have completed the signing of Brazil forward Kerolin from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £1.25m. This represents the largest sum ever received by a Women’s Super League (WSL) club for a player sale, according to sources close to the deal.
Record-breaking transfer for WSL and Barcelona
The transfer surpasses the £1m Liverpool received from Arsenal for Olivia Smith in 2025 and the £850,000 switch of Melvine Malard from Manchester United to Chelsea. For Barcelona, it is a club-record fee for a women’s signing, underlining their continued financial muscle in the women’s game.
Kerolin, 26, spent 18 months at Manchester City after joining from North Carolina Courage in January 2025. During her time at the club, she was part of the squad that secured both the WSL title and the Women’s FA Cup last season.
City's summer rebuild and Barcelona's ambition
Manchester City have already bolstered their attacking options this summer with the free transfer of England international Beth Mead from Arsenal. The departure of Kerolin adds to a busy window for the club as they look to defend their domestic crowns.
Barcelona, the reigning European champions, view Kerolin as a player capable of thriving in the Champions League. Her pace and dribbling ability are expected to add a new dimension to their attack, with the club believing she can become a regular goalscorer in the competition.
The Catalan club has seen a significant squad overhaul this summer, saying goodbye to Spain internationals Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, Ona Batlle, and Salma Paralluelo. Despite these departures, Barcelona remain determined to maintain their status as the dominant force in European football.
Official statement from Barcelona
In a statement released on their official website, Barcelona expressed their excitement about the arrival of Kerolin. The club said: “The signing of Kerolin Nicoli is another clear statement of FC Barcelona’s ambition. The club remains committed to bringing together the best players in world football with the aim of staying at the top of the game and continuing to set the standard for excellence.”
The statement continued: “The Brazilian international arrives at one of the best moments of her career to strengthen a squad built to compete for every trophy. With her talent, creativity and ability to decide matches, Kerolin adds even more quality to a team whose ambition remains unchanged: to challenge for every title and, once again, strive to win it all.”
Kerolin is expected to link up with her new teammates in the coming days as Barcelona begin their preparations for the upcoming season, where they will look to reclaim the Champions League title and dominate domestically once again.
