Racheal Kundananji becomes most expensive women's footballer after joining Bay FC

Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji has become the most expensive women’s football signing in history after joining Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $860,000 (£685,000). The forward agreed a four-year deal with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team, with the option of one more year. Kundananji scored 33 goals in 43 Liga F games for Madrid CFF in 2022. Her move to the San Francisco Bay Area is pending visa approval and international transfer certificate. The 23-year-old has become the first African player, male or female, to break a world transfer record. The previous most expensive women’s signing was England midfielder Keira Walsh following her £400,000 switch from Manchester City to Barcelona in 2022. Chelsea’s move for Colombian striker Mayra Ramirez from Levante for an initial £384,000, with add-ons potentially taking it up to £426,600 is expected to become the second biggest now. “People in Zambia will be surprised but they will be so happy,” Kundananji told BBC Sport Africa. “I want to give the [Bay FC] fans what they want - to enjoy the games, to enjoy seeing me playing and scoring.” Kundananji started her career in Zambia with Indeni Roses before moving to BIIK Kazygurt in Kazakhstan in 2019, where she also got the opportunity to play in the coveted Women’s Champions League. Two years later, she joined Spanish top-flight club Eibar and a season later moved to Madrid. She scored 25 goals in 29 league games to help Madrid CFF to a fifth-place finish, the best in their history, last season and has added another eight in 14 league matches this campaign. Kundananji also played, and scored, at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia-New Zealand and has 10 goals in 18 games for Zambia. Bay FC begin their journey in the NWSL this year as the league’s 14th team. The regular season starts on 16 March.