Barcelona have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Kerolin Nicoli from Manchester City in a record-breaking deal believed to be worth around £1.25m.
The move eclipses Olivia Smith’s £1m switch from Liverpool to Arsenal last summer and comfortably surpasses Barcelona’s previous transfer record of €470,000 (£400,000), paid for Keira Walsh in 2022.
Kerolin Experienced a Whirlwind 18 Months in England
Kerolin Nicoli – known simply as ‘Kerolin’ – joined City from the North Carolina Courage in January 2025, with two years remaining on her contract.
She scored nine goals and added five assists in 15 WSL appearances last season (including a hat-trick against rivals Chelsea in February), earning her a place in the league’s top 10 goalscorers for 25/26.
Her goalscoring efforts helped Andree Jeglertz’s side win their first WSL title in a decade, as well as the Women’s FA Cup.
Barca Secures Much-Needed Attacking Reinforcement
The move comes after Barcelona lost several key attacking players this summer, including two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses, and Salma Parraluelo, who moved to Lyon.
Described by Barcelona as a game-changing talent, Kerolin is expected to fill the void left by Parraluelo, bringing dribbling ability, pace and versatility to Barca’s squad. She’s signed with the club until 2030.
A Key Figure in the Brazil Squad
Born in São Paulo in 1999, she’s also a key figure for Brazil on the international stage, with 15 goals in 62 caps.
She’ll undoubtedly be one of the faces of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, which takes place on Kerolin’s home patch in Brazil.
