Barcelona to break world transfer record this summer

Tom Weber

• 12 Apr 2023 12:40 BST
• 4 min read

Barcelona are preparing a record transfer offer for Lyon star Ada Hegerberg.

The Norwegian megastar is the first women's Ballon d'Or winner and has been one of the game's most prolific forwards for the best part of a decade. Only a long-term ACL injury, which kept her out of action for 21 months, stopped her ridiculous goalscoring form.

In total, the 27-year-old phenom has scored 300 goals in 305 career appearances, including 238 in 213 games since making the switch to Lyon in 2014. With the French side, she has won a ridiculous seven league titles and six Champions Leagues.

Last year, Lyon somewhat surprisingly beat Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League final, which is believed to have been the occasion where the first contact between Blaugrana president Joan Laporta and Hegerberg was established.

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Barcelona to smash the record

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are ready to break the women's football transfer record - their own record - to bring the Norwegian to Catalonia. The Blaugrana already smashed the record last year by signing Manchester City's Keira Walsh for €400,000, and they are ready to do it again this summer.

Hegerberg is still under contract until 2024, so Barcelona won't just have to pay a sizeable sum to get her, they will also have to offer her a better salary, which would make her the highest-paid player in the history of women's football. L'Equipe claimed last year that the 27-year-old is taking home €420,000 per annum with her current deal.

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According to Marca, Lyon's early quarter-final Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea this season has convinced some of the French clubs' stars that the future of women's football lies with Barcelona, who have totally dominated the Spanish league for several years now and are the clear favourites to win Europe's premier competition this term.

Barcelona reportedly want to complete the deal before this summer's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where Norway have a relatively easy group with the Kiwi hosts, the up-and-coming Philippines and Switzerland.