The Brazil forward Kerolin failed to report back for pre-season training at Manchester City in July before her transfer to Barcelona had been agreed.

Barcelona announced their signing of the 26-year-old on Tuesday but it was not until Thursday evening when Manchester City first made any reference to the transfer, eventually confirming they had received a WSL record fee for a sale more than 48 hours later.

Several staff and players at Manchester City were disappointed at what were perceived to be efforts by Kerolin to force a transfer to Barcelona and that her time at the club ended on a surprisingly sour note. She did not join pre-season with the Women’s Super League champions, which began in late July, despite previously having been felt to have been on good terms with the squad.

The deal, worth an initial €1.2m (£1m), represents the largest transfer fee received by a WSL club, and it could rise with add-ons to approximately £1.25m, although this has not been officially confirmed. It is one of the largest transfer fees in women’s football.

City said of Kerolin: “She grabbed 14 goals and six assists during that time, helping City to a WSL and FA Cup double in her solitary full season in England. And upon her transfer to Barça, City have received a WSL-club record transfer fee of €1.2m.

“Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Kerolin for all her efforts at the club and wish her the very best in her future career.”

Kerolin was part of the City side that lifted their first WSL title in a decade last season and also helped them win the Women’s FA Cup. But within weeks of those celebrations many of her City colleagues have been stunned after she did not say goodbye in-person. Kerolin’s representatives have been contacted for a response.

High-profile examples of such transfer standoffs have been seen in men’s football, but incidents in the women’s game have been comparatively rare.

City have no objections to the transfer in principle but sources have said the team were taken aback by the former North Carolina Courage star’s absence from pre-season fitness testing. For Kerolin, it is a dream move to the European champions, who beat OL Lyonnes in last season’s Women’s Champions League final.

City and Barcelona will meet in a friendly at the Joie Stadium on 15 August as the reigning champions of England and Spain step up their pre-season preparations.