Most expensive transfers in women's football history
- Transfer fees in the women's game are on the rise
- Chelsea have twice broke the transfer record in the past few years
- Mayra Ramirez and Racheal Kundananji are the latest lucrative recruits
As the reputation of the women's game continues to grow, so do the transfer fees.
While they still pale in comparison to the frankly ridiculous sums of money splashed about in the men's game, the increased cost of signings points to the progression in women's football.
The Women's Super League still dominates in terms of finances - Mayra Ramirez the latest star to make the switch to England - but Division 1 Feminine and Liga F also boast some of the world's best and richest clubs.
With the January transfer window in full flow, let's take a look at the ten most expensive signings in women's football history.
10. Alex Morgan - £206,000
One of the icons of the modern game, Alex Morgan's most lucrative move came at the end of her career. The 34-year-old, who has played for ten different clubs in her career, joined San Diego Wave from Orlando Pride in 2022 for £206,000.
The United states striker is still plying her trade for the Wave and has netted 27 goals in 45 appearances since her move.
The two-time World Cup winner spent a very brief spell at Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL, scoring just two goals in five appearances during her three months in north London.
9. Kyra Cooney-Cross - £214,000
A player who put herself in the shop window during the 2023 World Cup with co-hosts Australia, Kyra Cooney-Cross made the move to Arsenal from Hammarby IF in Sweden last summer.
The promising 21-year-old is a signing for the future in north London, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall hailing her as "one of the best young players in world football."
The midfielder has made just seven WSL appearances this term, of which two have been cameos from the bench.
8. Bethany England - £250,000
Making a lucrative switch across London, Bethany England joined Tottenham from Chelsea in January 2023 for £250,000 after struggling for minutes under Emma Hayes.
The aptly-named England international hit the ground running at Tottenham, netting 12 goals in 12 appearances in the second half of the WSL campaign.
England has been sidelined for the majority of the 2023/24 season after undergoing hip surgery and has made only five league appearances this campaign.
7. Pernille Harder - £250,000
When Pernille Harder joined Chelsea from Wolfsburg back in 2020 for £250,000, she broke the women's football transfer record. While five players have surpassed her fee since, the Dane remains an incredibly talented footballer.
Harder joined Bayern Munich last summer but finished her Chelsea career with 44 goals in 81 appearances.
The forward won two domestic doubles and a treble during her time in west London.
6. Geyse - £256,000
After a promising 2023 World Cup campaign and debut season with Barcelona, Manchester United were quick to snap up Geyse from the Catalan club for £256,000 last summer.
The Brazilian was not a guaranteed starter for Barca but did win the Champions League with the club last season before her move to the WSL.
The forward has scored just once in 11 league appearances for Man Utd this season.
5. Lindsey Horan - £258,000
The most expensive United States international of all time, Lindsey Horan made the move to Lyon from Portland Thorns for £258,000 in 2023.
Horan initially joined French giants Lyon on a six-month loan deal for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, winning the Ligue 1 Feminine, Coupe de France Feminine and Champions League. Not a bad loan spell.
The 29-year-old then joined Lyon permanently for the following season and scored eight goals in 26 games during her first full campaign.
4. Jill Roord - £300,000
Manchester City managed to persuade highly-rated midfielder Jill Roord to swap Germany for England last summer, the Dutch international joining the WSL side from Champions League finalists Wolfsburg.
Despite a lack of European football for Man City this season, Roord chose to join Gareth Taylor's side - a decision that looks justified given they currently sit second in the WSL and only three points off champions Chelsea.
The £300,000 spent by Man City has proved a bargain, Roord having netted ten goals in 16 appearances in all competitions, but she will miss the rest of the season with an ACL rupture.
3. Keira Walsh - £400,000
After an eight-year stint with Man City, Keira Walsh swapped the comfort of England for the unknown of Spain in 2022. The Lioness made the then record £400,000 switch to Barcelona and has already won four trophies with the Liga F side, including the Champions League.
Walsh will have also caught the eye of Barcelona during her impressive run at the 2022 European Championship that England won, with the midfielder awarded player of the match in the final.
2. Mayra Ramirez - £500,000
Chelsea's latest big-money signing, Mayra Ramirez has been recruited by the Blues for £500,000 - if add-ons are achieved. Brought in to cover for Sam Kerr, who sustained a long-term ACL injury, the forward joins from Levante in Liga F.
The Colombian put in some sensational performances during the World Cup, also producing 25 goal contributions in 27 matches for Levante in the league last term.
A powerful and tenacious striker, WSL defenders will find it tough to deny the 24-year-old during the second half of the season.
1. Racheal Kundananji - £625,000
Ramirez's brief record as the most expensive signing in women's football has been surpassed by Racheal Kundananji, the Zambia forward joining newly-formed United States outfit Bay FC from Madrid CFF.
It's no surprise that the 23-year-old has made the switch for an initial fee of £625,000 having scored 33 goals in 44 Liga F matches for Madrid.
Kundananji is the first African player to break a world transfer record in either men's or women's football.
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