Most Expensive Transfers In Women’s Football

The face of sports is ever transforming with the evolution of society. In what was predominantly a male dominated sector, women are also flourishing.

One of the prominent factors to gauge the growth of women’s sports from their paycheck. Women players are continuously being recognized for their talent and skills and are receiving handsome rewards accordingly.

As female sportspersons continue to break barriers, let us have a look at most expensive transfers in women’s football.

Naomi Girma- £900,000

Naomi Girma scripted history by becoming the first player in women’s football to record a transfer fee of over one million euros. English giants Chelsea acquired the star defender from San Diego Wave.

The transfer fee is believed to be a world record for a woman footballer with reports claiming Chelsea have paid £900,000 (US$ 1.1m) for her services. The previous record was US$ 862,000 paid by Bay FC to Madrid CFF for Racheal Kundananji last February. The 24-year-old has penned a four-and-a-half-year deal and will wear the number 16 shirt at her new club.

Girma was named the 2023 US Soccer Female Player of the Year.  She played every minute as the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) won Olympic gold at Paris 2024 under former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

Racheal Kundananji – £685,000

Racheal Kundananji earned £685,000 on switching from Madrid CFF to Bay FC. Three years after moving to Europe with the Kazakhstani outfit BIIK Kazygurt in 2019, Kundananji was approached by Spanish side Eibar. Despite getting offered five times her existing salary to stay in Kazakhstan, the forthright forward joined Liga F, where she could shine on a bigger stage.

She has scored 72 goals from 104 appearances in her senior club career so far. 

Barbra Banda – £581,000

Barely three weeks after her compatriot Racheal Kundananji moved to Bay FC, Barbra Banda became the second woman to ever command a fee in excess of half a million pounds following a move to Orlando Pride from Shanghai Shengli.

She pursued professional boxing for two years in which she represented Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion.  Banda had five fights in the bantamweight division, going undefeated and knocking out four opponents. Before she began her career in football, the striker used to strike her opponents in the boxing ring. She has 46 goals from 63 games in her senior club career. 

Also Read: AFCON 2025: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, All You Need To Know

Most Expensive Transfers In Women’s Football (Top 10)

Eight of the top ten record-breaking transfers occurred in 2024, implying the growth of women’s football.