Who Holds the Record as the Most Expensive Women’s Soccer Player Ever?
The transfer market in women’s football has taken considerable time to reach its current state.
For many years, female players were restricted by the duration of their contracts, with clubs hesitant to invest additional funds in transfer fees for new signings. However, this has changed recently. Players have begun to recognize their value, with the market’s worth increasing year after year.
We are still waiting for the first £1 million female player, although it now seems to be a matter of when, not if. But who currently holds the record for the highest transfer fee in the women’s game?
The most expensive women’s player of all time
The current record holder for the highest transfer fee in history is Zambian forward Racheal Kundananji. At 24 years old, Kundananji was signed by American club Bay FC for £685,000 (€805,000) from Spanish club Madrid CFF.
The striker became the first-ever African player to hold this title, regardless of gender. Her international teammate Barba Banda ensures a Zambian dominance in the current rankings.
Banda’s transfer from Shanghai to the Orlando Pride, another NWSL club, carried a fee of £582,000.
Both transfers occurred in 2024, prompting speculation that the first £1 million deal may be on the horizon.
The Kundananji transfer was actually the second time the record had been broken in 2024, with a WSL club previously holding the top position on the all-time list.
When Chelsea acquired Mayra Ramirez from Levante during the January transfer window, the Colombian was signed for £426,000—setting a world record until Kundananji reset the mark the following month.
Which English players have held the world transfer record?
Before Ramirez’s signing with the Blues, the world record position was held by a current Lioness.
Keira Walsh‘s transfer from Manchester City to Barcelona occurred shortly after she helped England secure victory in Euro 2022, costing the Catalan club £400,000 (€470,000). Walsh had spent eight years at City and had one year remaining on her contract.
This transfer shattered the earlier record, held by Pernille Harder, who moved to Chelsea for £250,000 in 2020.
The highest domestic transfer fee paid solely between two WSL clubs was Bethany England‘s £250,000 transfer in January 2023, when she swapped Chelsea for Tottenham. The hefty fee proved beneficial for Spurs, as England’s goals played a crucial role in their survival from relegation that season.
