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Women’s soccer transfer record has been redefined with Naomi Girma becoming the first player to command a million-dollar fee.
The 24-year-old defender finalized her transfer from San Diego Wave to Chelsea for a reported fee of 900,000 pounds ($1.1 million) on Sunday, highlighting the growing financial investment in women’s soccer.
This historic move prompts a closer examination of how transfer fees in women’s soccer have evolved over the past two decades:
2002: Milene Domingues, $310,000
In 2002, Brazilian midfielder Milene Domingues made headlines by transferring from Fiammamonza in Italy to Rayo Vallecano in Spain for $310,000. At that time, this fee was groundbreaking. Domingues’ move was motivated by her desire to be closer to her then-husband, soccer icon Ronaldo, who had just signed with Real Madrid.
However, Domingues never played a match for Rayo Vallecano due to restrictions on foreign players in the Spanish league, leading her to return to Fiammamonza.
Domingues’ record stood for 18 years until Danish forward Pernille Harder transferred from Wolfsburg in Germany to Chelsea for $355,000 (300,000 euros). During her time at Wolfsburg, Harder earned UEFA Women’s Player of the Year honors twice and guided her team to consecutive Champions League finals.
Harder continued her impressive form at Chelsea, contributing to the team’s success in the FA Women’s Super League and FA Cup across three seasons. Despite facing a significant injury in her final season, she returned to assist in winning the FA Cup, netting 24 goals in 48 appearances.
The transfer record shifted again when England’s Keira Walsh moved from Manchester City to Barcelona for $513,000 (400,000 pounds). Walsh’s contributions were pivotal in England’s Euro victory and Manchester City’s triumphs in various competitions.
At Barcelona, Walsh helped secure two Champions League titles and two Liga F championships in her first two seasons.
Chelsea made headlines again in 2024 by acquiring Colombian forward Mayra Ramirez from Levante for $542,000 (500,000 euros). Ramirez’s impressive performance in the previous World Cup, where she helped Colombia reach the quarterfinals, added to her value.
Ramirez quickly made an impact at Chelsea, scoring 11 goals in 30 matches and contributing to the team’s Super League victory, earning the EFE Trophy for Best Ibero-American Player.
Just a month later, Zambian striker Rachael Kundananji set a new record by transferring from Madrid CFF to Bay FC in the United States for $788,000. Kundananji’s remarkable scoring ability at Madrid CFF, along with her standout performance in the World Cup, where she helped Zambia secure a historic win over Spain, made her a sought-after player.
At just 23 years old, Kundananji became the first African player to hold a transfer fee record, making a significant mark in women’s soccer history. She started her career with Bay FC, scoring two goals in her first 12 matches while on a four-year contract.
