Barcelona sign Brazil forward Kerolin from Manchester City for record €1.5m fee

Barcelona have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Kerolin Nicoli from Manchester City on a four-year contract running until 30 June 2030, the club announced on Tuesday. The deal, reported at around €1.5 million (£1.3 million, $1.73 million) between fixed and variable components, sets a new benchmark as the largest transfer fee ever received by a Women's Super League club and the most expensive acquisition in Barcelona Femení history.

The player

Kerolin, born in São Paulo on 17 November 1999, is a versatile attacker whose natural position is on the wing but who can operate anywhere across the front line. Barcelona's statement described her as "a player capable of making the difference in the final third thanks to her one-on-one ability, her speed and her eye for goal."

“I'm very happy to be here; dreams come true.”

She arrives after a single season at Manchester City, where she scored nine goals and provided five assists in 15 WSL appearances, including a hat-trick against Chelsea in February. City won both the WSL title (their first in a decade) and the Women's FA Cup during her time at the club.

Career path

Kerolin's professional journey has taken her across five Brazilian league clubs (she won the Copa Libertadores with Corinthians in 2017), a stint at Madrid CFF in Liga F after serving a two-year doping suspension from a positive test with Palmeiras, a breakout period with North Carolina Courage in the NWSL, and the 2025 move to Manchester City. Internationally, she has earned 62 caps for Brazil, scoring 15 goals, and won the Copa América in 2022 and 2025 plus a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Why Barcelona moved

The signing addresses a specific gap in Pere Romeu's squad. Barcelona lost several key players this summer: two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas joined London City Lionesses, defender Mapi León also moved to London City Lionesses, and forward Salma Paralluelo departed for Champions League rivals Olympique Lyon. Kerolin is viewed as the direct replacement for Paralluelo on the wing.

Earlier in the window Barcelona had already brought in goalkeeper Tyler McCamey and defenders Martina Fernández (returning to the club) and Renee van Alsten. The club stated the Kerolin deal is "another clear statement of FC Barcelona's ambition" and that it "remains committed to bringing together the best players in world football."

Presentation and season start

Kerolin arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday and will be presented to media and fans on Wednesday at 13:00 in the Sala Comercial of the Spotify Camp Nou, after signing her contract. Barcelona begin their Liga F title defence on 30 August away to CD Tenerife. The club has won the Spanish top flight seven consecutive times and claimed the Women's Champions League title four times since 2020.

Transfer context

The previous record sale from the WSL was Canadian forward Olivia Smith's £1 million move from Liverpool to Arsenal last year. The Kerolin fee surpasses that mark and also makes her the most expensive Brazilian women's player ever, according to the BBC.