The most expensive signings ever in women's football

The transfer fees of women's footballers are not as openly discussed like they are in the men's game.

However, there are certain clubs who aren't as shy, and have been open with the amount of cash they've been willing to stump up to secure top-talent.

Here are the top five most expensive signings in women's football.

5. Ewa Pajor (£422.3k to Barcelona)

Barcelona announced they had signed Poland striker Ewa Pajor last month on a three-year deal for €500,000 (£422,300).

The 27-year-old made the move from Wolfsburg, where she’d spent the last nine seasons, scoring 136 goals in 196 appearances, including 18 in the Women's Champions League. 

Her track record last season of 18 goals in 19 games in the German league saw her be awarded with the top goalscorer award. 

4. Mayra Ramirez (£422.3k to Chelsea)

Colombia forward Mayra Ramirez signed a four-year deal with Chelsea after sealing a €500,000 (£422,300) move in January, reaching a new British record. 

At the time, the 24-year-old had earned 30 international caps, and scored 32 goals in 95 games across the last four years playing in Liga F, moving from Levante, after previously being at Huelva. 

Since joining the Blues, Ramirez has hit the back of the net five times, and was pivotal in helping the club become league champions last season.

3. Kika Nazareth (£549k to Barcelona)

Barcelona confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Kika Nazareth from Benfica earlier this month for €650,000 (£549,000).

The Portugal international joined the Catalan side for four-years, through to 30 June 2028. She is known for being a skilled midfielder, who can also play in attack.

Nazareth scored five goals in the nine games she played in the Women's Champions League, where her team reached the quarter finals last season, before going out to Marseille. She was instrumental in helping Benfica win all four domestic trophies last season. 

Chelsea and Lyon also expressed interest in Nazareth, but lost out to Barcelona. 

2. Barbara Banda (£581k to Orlando Pride)

Zambia international Barbra Banda’s move to Orlando Pride from Chinese club Shanghai Shengli for $740,000 (£581,000) saw her become the second-most expensive transfer in history. 

The deal made in March saw Banda commit to four-years at Pride, becoming one of the highest-paid players in the United States’ NWSL. She scored 41 goals in 52 games for Shanghai Shengli, and has since bagged eight for Pride, helping the team become in league history to win eight matches in a row. 

1. Racheal Kundananji (£685k to Bay FC)

Banda's fellow Zambian Racheal Kundananji became the most expensive women’s footballer in history after joining Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $860,000 (£685,000) in February. 

At just 23-years-old she became the first African player, male or female, to break a world transfer record. At the time, the forward agreed a four-year deal with the club, with the option of a further year, after scoring 33 goals in her 43 Liga F appearances for Madrid. 

Bay FC were gearing up to make their National Women’s Soccer League debut, becoming the 14th team to join after being established in April 2023.

Kundananji’s signing saw her surpass England midfielder Keira Walsh as the most expensive women’s player, following her £400,000 move from Manchester City to Barcelona in 2022. 

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