Racheal Kundananji is now the most expensive female soccer player in the history of the sport after moving from Madrid CFF to Bay FC in a deal worth $860,000.

the first African player in the female or men’s game to set a global transfer record

This amount is significantly higher than the previous highest ￡400,000 ($501,706) sum that changed hands when England’s Keira Walsh moved to Barcelona in 2022 from Manchester City. It also makes the Zambian native the first African player in the female or men’s game to set a global transfer record.

Bay FC is a new expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League. The San Francisco Bay Area side will be lining out for the first time when the new season starts on March 16.

Bettors will be closely watching US sportsbooks when they release the odds for the competition to see where Bay FC will lie in the reckoning. Other notable players to sign for the new franchise include former Arsenal star Jen Beattie and Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala.

Kundananji has quickly built up a strong reputation for herself. The 23-year-old scoring 25 goals in 29 league games last season with Madrid CFF. She also starred at the recent Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

More money and attention are constantly pouring into the women’s game. FIFA reported that total transfer fees last month reached $2.1m, which is a 165% year-on-year rise.