History of Women's Football Transfer Records: The Most Expensive Signings

In 2025, the women's football transfer record was shattered multiple times, with clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, the Orlando Pride, and the London City Lionesses leading the way. The spending in women's football keeps growing, and some past record transfers have fallen far down the list of top fees.

For example, when Pernille Harder moved to Chelsea in 2020, her fee was a record, but by 2025 it had dropped below the top 40 most expensive deals. Keira Walsh topped the list briefly after her switch from Manchester City to Barcelona in 2022, but even that move is now outside the top 20. In January 2025, Walsh returned to Chelsea in a deal worth more than her previous transfer, pushing her back into the higher echelons of the list.

Top Women's Football Transfers

• Racheal Kundananji (Madrid CFF to Bay FC): Joined Bay FC in early 2025 for $862,000 (£685,000). She scored 33 goals in 43 league matches before moving to the NWSL expansion team.
• Keira Walsh (Barcelona to Chelsea): Moved in January 2025 for a fee starting around £460,000 ($572,000) but ultimately rising to €850,000 (£714,000/$884,000) including add-ons.
• Claudia Martinez (Club Olimpia to Washington Spirit): Signed in January 2026 for $950,000 after a standout Copa America performance, where she netted six goals in five games at age 17.
• Tarciane (Houston Dash to Lyon): Transferred in February 2025 for about $960,000 (£762,000), setting a French league record at the time.
• Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit to Kansas City Current): Traded for $1 million (£732,000) on February 11, 2025. She earned NWSL Rookie and Midfielder of the Year honors in 2024.
• Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current to Bay FC): Signed for $1.1 million (£805,000) in February 2025. A key player for Kansas City, she helped them win the NWSL Shield in 2025.
• Melvine Malard (Manchester United to Chelsea): Transferred in July 2026 for around £850,000 ($1.14 million), marking a club-record sale for Man United.
• Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave to Chelsea): Became the first million-dollar woman’s football signing in January 2025 for £883,000 ($1.1 million). She’s regarded as one of the best defenders globally.
• Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage to Gotham): The highest NWSL-to-NWSL transfer at $1.25 million (£909,000) in mid-2025. Shaw quickly made an impact, winning the NWSL Championship later that year.
• Olivia Smith (Liverpool to Arsenal): Arsenal paid over £1 million in July 2025 to secure the young star, making her the first million-pound player in women’s football.
• Lizbeth Ovalle (Tigres to Orlando Pride): Set a new world record with a $1.5 million (£1.1 million) transfer to Orlando Pride in August 2025 after interest from major European clubs.
• Alyssa Thompson (Angel City to Chelsea): Chelsea’s 2025 deadline day signing had a reported fee approaching or exceeding £1 million, potentially reaching $2 million (£1.5 million) according to FIFA’s 2025 global report.
• Kerolin (Manchester City to Barcelona): The Brazilian forward moved for £1.25 million ($1.68 million) in 2026, ranking as the third-largest fee ever in women’s football.
• Felicia Schroder (BK Häcken to Real Madrid): Completed a widely reported world-record transfer in summer 2026, with fees estimated around €1.35 million (£1.16 million/$1.56 million), surpassing previous benchmarks.
• Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain to London City Lionesses): The record-breaking signing in summer 2025 at €1.65 million (£1.43 million/$1.93 million), making her the highest-fee international transfer in women's football according to FIFA.

Details on Select Transfers

Racheal Kundananji became the most expensive female player briefly in 2025, joining Bay FC for nearly $900,000. Her scoring prowess in Spain earned her that big move, though she has yet to replicate that form fully in the U.S.

Keira Walsh's return to Chelsea was a headline grabber, with the final fee including bonuses reportedly nearing £714,000. She remains a crucial midfielder at the top level.

Claudia Martinez turned heads with her youth and goal-scoring during Copa America, prompting Washington Spirit to pay close to a million dollars shortly after her 18th birthday.

Naomi Girma made history as the first million-dollar signing in the women’s game. Her defensive skills helped the U.S. win Olympic gold in 2024, cementing her reputation.

Lizbeth Ovalle’s record-breaking transfer to Orlando Pride outstripped many European clubs' offers. She joined the reigning NWSL champions for $1.5 million in 2025.

Alyssa Thompson was another huge signing for Chelsea, with some reports suggesting her fee could top $2 million, making her one of the priciest players ever.

Grace Geyoro moved to London City Lionesses in a staggering deal that challenged previous records, backed by significant investment as the club prepared for their WSL debut.