Keira Walsh, the controller of the midfield who has dominated on the world stage and inevitably excelled wherever she has gone, has just celebrated her 100th cap for the England Lionesses. Walsh reached this milestone on 14 April and was presented with her commemorative 100-cap award at Wembley in front of a crowd of 75,000 fans. The contrast in attendance growth within women’s football is remarkable. Just nine years ago, Keira Walsh made her senior Lionesses debut in front of a crowd of 10,000 spectators. Now, she has celebrated her 100th appearance for England in front of 75,000 fans — more than seven times the crowd that watched her first cap.
Walsh’s journey to 100 caps for the Lionesses is something she could only have dreamed of as a youngster. Growing up, she played for grassroots side Pearson Juniors and Manchester CFA, where she was often regarded as the standout player in boys’ teams. Progressing through the academy system and England’s youth ranks, Walsh captained her country at just 21 years old and has since gone on to win multiple trophies for both club and country.
Walsh is a playmaker of the highest caliber and demonstrates her talent on the world’s biggest stages, continuing to push the legacy of women’s football. Coming up as a youngster playing for Blackburn Rovers before moving to Manchester City, to Barcelona and now playing for Chelsea, Walsh has had a memorable career so far, and she shows no signs of stopping.
Walsh made her senior England debut in November 2017, coming on against Kazakhstan in Colchester. Reflecting on the occasion at the time, she said:
“I was just happy to be getting selected and getting experience training with those players and when she told me I was going to be playing in the ten, I just remembered immediately being really, really nervous. But luckily I was playing with the players that I played a lot with at City, so that definitely helped me feel more comfortable.”
Throughout her senior career, Walsh has won an impressive collection of honours for both club and country across multiple leagues, nations and continents. During her time at Manchester City, she helped the club secure four Continental League Cups, three Women’s FA Cups and the 2016 Women’s Super League title.
Her success continued after making the move to Barcelona, where silverware became almost an expectation. Across two seasons in Spain, Walsh won three Spanish Super Cups, two Liga F titles, two Copa de la Reina trophies and two UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
The 2023/24 season proved particularly memorable, as Walsh helped Barcelona achieve a historic quadruple by winning the Liga F title, Copa de la Reina, Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Women’s Champions League. In doing so, she became one of the select group of players to complete a clean sweep of all major trophies available in a single season. This extraordinary success saw Walsh enter the 2024/25 season in pursuit of even more silverware following her move to Chelsea. It was a challenge she would once again rise to, playing a key role in the Blues’ domestic treble-winning campaign. Chelsea lifted the Women’s Super League title, Women’s FA Cup and Women’s League Cup, adding another remarkable chapter to Walsh’s already glittering career.
Walsh’s success with England has been just as impressive. She is a two-time UEFA Women’s European Championship winner, having lifted the trophy in 2022 and 2025. She has also won the Arnold Clark Cup twice (2022, 2023), the SheBelieves Cup in 2019 and the Women’s Finalissima in 2023.
Her achievements with England extend far beyond the senior team. Walsh’s journey through the national setup began at just 12 years old when she was called up to the Young Lionesses’ Under-15 squad. She continued to excel throughout the youth ranks, playing a key role in helping England Under-17s reach the semi-finals of the 2014 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship. Her performances earned her a place in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament, highlighting her talent from an early age.
More recently, Walsh was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in King Charles III’s New Year Honours List for 2026. The honour recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution within their field and had a meaningful impact on others.
Walsh received the award in recognition of her achievements and contributions to English football, having played an instrumental role in the Lionesses’ historic UEFA Women’s European Championship triumphs in both 2022 and 2025. It is one of the most prestigious honours that can be awarded in the United Kingdom and serves as further recognition of Walsh’s remarkable influence on the game.
“Nobody can do what Keira Walsh does, the way she turns on the ball; there were times in the Euros when training would stop and we would just applaud her, she’s that good!” – Jill Scott
During the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final, Walsh delivered a dominant midfield performance and showcased her quality on one of football’s biggest stages. Her perfectly weighted through ball released Ella Toone, who opened the scoring against Germany at Wembley Stadium. Her outstanding display was instrumental in England’s historic European Championship triumph and was recognised with the UEFA Women’s Player of the Match award.
Walsh’s outstanding contributions for both club and country have earned her a place in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World XI on three occasions (2022, 2023 and 2024). The honour is reserved for the very best players in the world and reflects the consistency, quality and influence she has displayed throughout her career.
By reaching 100 England appearances, Walsh has now featured in one-fifth of all Lionesses matches ever played — a remarkable statistic that underlines both her longevity and importance to the national team.
Keira Walsh is a force to be reckoned with, leading by example both on and off the pitch. Despite being one of the most accomplished players in the game, she has never sought the spotlight or craved recognition. Instead, she has quietly let her performances do the talking. Captaining England on the occasion of her 100th senior cap was a fitting tribute to a player whose influence, dedication and achievements have helped shape one of the most successful eras in Lionesses history. It was a moment that perfectly reflected just how deserving she is of the recognition she continues to receive.
https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/squad/keira-walsh
https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2026/Apr/16/keira-walsh-100-caps-interview-20261604
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/keira-walsh
https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/match/2032236–england-vs-germany/events/
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cj40qw1ennwo
https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2026/Apr/14/keira-walsh-grassroots-story-20220906
