- Signs with Bay FC
- Kundananji sets transfer record
- Aims for NWSL success
By signing with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion club Bay FC, Zambian forward Racheal Kundananji has become the most expensive athlete in the history of women’s football.
The San Francisco Bay Area-based American club paid $788,000 to acquire the 23-year-old from Spanish club Madrid CFF.
Bay FC will make its inaugural NWSL appearance this season, earning the 14th spot in the league. The commencement of the regular season is on 16 March.
Additionally, this is the first time that an African player, regardless of gender, has surpassed a global transfer record.
Kundananji has signed a four-year contract with an additional year of eligibility. The announcement was made less than two weeks after Asisat Oshoala, who achieved the prestigious African Footballer of the Year title for the sixth time in December, joined the club from Barcelona.
“Natural scoring ability”
Kundananji represented Zambia in the Women’s World Cup last year. She has accumulated ten goals in eighteen appearances for her national team.
Since joining Madrid CFF in 2022, she has accumulated 33 goals in 43 Liga F matches.
“Racheal has a natural ability to score with a variety of finishes and from a variety of locations, as well as composure in front of the net,” said Bay FC general manager Lucy Rushton in a statement.
“We are confident that she will further develop and flourish at our club, demonstrating her exceptional abilities and contributing to our collection of dynamic attacking talent.”
Kundananji joined Madrid CFF from Sociedad Deportiva Eibar and established herself as one of the club’s leading performers almost immediately.
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“[She] developed into an outstanding forward during her time with our club, and we wish her the best of luck in her upcoming professional endeavours,” the Spanish club stated. “Madrid CFF reaffirms its position as one of the preeminent clubs in terms of talent acquisition and development, and we remain committed to further pursuing this objective in the coming years.”
The team’s arrival with Kundananji is contingent upon the visa and international transfer certificate being approved.
The transfer surpasses the nearly $500,000 reported price that Chelsea paid to Spanish club Levante for Maya Ramirez last month.
