Most expensive transfers in women’s football history
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.
A trailblazing signing back in 2002, Milene Domingues joined Rayo Vallecano for £200,000 over two decades ago. With inflation taken into consideration, that signing would actually come to a little over £400,000 if it were to take place in 2024.
The midfielder joined Spain from Italian side ASD Fiammamonza and was also part of the Brazil squad for the 2003 World Cup.
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.
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 six WSL appearances this term, of which two have been cameos from the bench.
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 three league appearances this campaign, most recently in a 4-3 victory over West Ham United on January 21.
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.
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 nine league appearances for Man Utd this season.
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.
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 eight goals in 14 appearances in all competitions.
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.
Chelsea’s latest signing, Mayra Ramirez has been recruited by the Blues for a record £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.