7 Of Most Expensive Women’s Transfers Of All Time

What are the biggest women’s transfers of all time?

Women’s transfer spending in football increased insignificantly from £0.51m in 2019 to £0.88m ($1.2m) in 2020, with only 36 transactions involving a fee, up from 31 the previous year.

Same in 2021, international women’s transfers released by world governing body FIFA revealed that 21 of 257 moves made during the January transfer window involved a fee, with a new record of $487,800 being spent with an upward increase of 57.3% in transfers money being spent.

While the $487,000 spent in the transfer market was a record for the year 2021, the figure was dwarfed this year with over $1.03b spent in the transfer market which is a testament to an increment in women’s transfers in the past four years.

This article was updated on Sept 7. 2022

Most expensive women’s transfers in soccer

Valerie Gauvin – (Montpellier – Everton, €100,000)

Gauvin’s excellent form and impact at Montpellier will certainly not be forgotten for what the French international did at the club in terms of her goal-scoring record from 2014 to 2020.

She joined Everton in 2020 on the back of an amazing campaign with Montpellier both in the Division 2 feminine and Division 1, scoring 33 goals in 31 games for the club and also helping them secure a Champions League ticket.

Gauvin currently plays her football with North Carolina Courage in the USA, but her move to Everton still ranks her as one of the most expensive women’s transfers in soccer.

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Ellie Carpenter – (Portland Thorns – Lyon, Undisclosed)

Ellie Carpenter is another fantastic Australia player that commands huge transfer fees in the market when Lyon feminine paid through their nose to get her services from USA-based side Portland Thorns in 2020.

The defender joined the French giant with an impressive resume and an appetizing reputation as one of the best in women’s football all over the globe, having won three consecutive ‘Young Footballer of the Year Awards in Australia.

Though Carpenter’s transfer fees weren’t disclosed by her club, however, it was reported to be one of the most expensive transfer deals done back in 2020 between Portland Thorns and Lyon.

Sofie Svava – (Wolfsburg – Real Madrid, €200,000)

Following the departure of Sofia Jakobsson to Real Madrid, Los Blanco’s feminine replaced her with the signing of young Danish defender Svava in a deal that makes her the team’s record signing from Wolfsburg in January this year.

Svava joined the German powerhouse from Rosengard in 2020 in a deal reported to be worth €55,000 and following her impressive performance with the team, Real Madrid signed her to replace their departing left-back who left for Bayern Munich feminine.

The Real Madrid star is highly regarded as one of Europe’s best women left back in football currently, with a great ability to play attacking and defensive styles of football.

Lauren James – (Manchester United – Chelsea, €235,000)

In 2021 Chelsea’s hierarchy continue their quest in building a formidable women’s football team that could rival the best, with the signing of Lauren James, the younger sister of Reece James following an impressive stint at Manchester United.

James got her move to Chelsea on the back of a great campaign with United, where she scored 15 goals in 18 league appearances to help her team get promoted to the Women’s Super League.

With Lauren James form on the upward trajectory for Chelsea, it means she could still join powerhouse teams like Barcelona, Lyon, Wolfsburg, or Real Madrid in the future for yet another astronomical amount of money in the transfer market.

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Milene Domingues – (Monza – Rayo Vallecano, €235,000)

Though retired as a professional footballer but then Domingues still ranks as one of the most expensive women footballers ever signed with an astronomical fee.

The former Brazilian superstar was signed by Rayo Vallecano in 2003 for a world record fee from Monza, with many reports claiming the deal was based on the economic standpoint which help the club recoup quite a lot in the sales of merchandise.

When Domingues joined Rayo she received annual wages reported to worth €36,000 to become the most paid female player in Spain at the time she moved to Spain.

Pernille Harder – (Wolfsburg – Chelsea, £300,000)

Harder moved to Chelsea in 2020 in a deal worth £300,000, she still remains the world’s most expensive transfer for a female player after Wolfsburg official sporting director Ralf Kellermann disclosed that Chelsea had completed the signing of the Danish international.

The attacking midfielder spent four seasons with the German champions Wolfsburg winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, as well as helping feature in the Champions League before she sealed a move to Chelsea for a mouthwatering fee.

Her record as the most expensive women’s transfer in soccer still stands till date, perhaps in the future, we might see another astronomical deal that would overturn her record.

Keira Walsh – ( Manchester City – Barcelona, £350,000 (€405,000)  )

Walsh is a playmaker from a deep midfield position when in possession, and a master of reading the game to shield the defense when out of possession.

She was often seen as the catalyst for City’s creative play with her impressive passing range and agility in tight spaces, while her defensive solidity allowed the center-backs more freedom to play out from the back.

Team-mates at both club and country have often singled out Walsh as their key player, even expressing their disbelief at her name being left off this year’s Ballon d’Or nominations.

Walsh leaves City as the club’s joint record appearance holder alongside Steph Houghton on 211 and with eight goals to her name. Since making her City debut in July 2014, the 25-year-old made 189 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals. She won her 50th England cap in the 10-0 victory over Luxembourg .

The England international, signed a three-year contract with Barcelona on September 7, 2022, making the Euro 2022 champion midfielder the most expensive women’s transfer in the world as of 2022.

The agreement between Barcelona and Manchester City is said to be worth around £350,000 (€405,000), the fee breaks the previous world record of £300,000 that Chelsea shelled out to VfL Wolfsburg to sign Pernille Harder in 2020.

Walsh will become the second player to switch from Manchester City for Barcelona this summer after Lucy Bronze joined the Catalans a few months back. With Walsh, Barcelona now has arguably the most feared and respected midfield trio in world football.

FAQ

Who is the most expensive female football player?

Keira Walsh – ( Manchester City – Barcelona, €400,000) is the most expensive women’s player in history.

What is the record transfer fee in women’s football?

On 7 September 2022, Keiraa Walsh signed for Barcelona femeni on a three-year contract for a world-record fee for a female footballer, reportedly in excess of £350,000 ( € 405.000)

How much do female footballers earn?

The WSL technically has one as well but it is relatively soft, set at 40% of turnover. In the NWSL, however, players must be paid a minimum of $22,000 but the maximum salary is $52,500.

How much does the best women’s footballer earn?

Ada Hegerberg was the highest earning female player in 2019 – with the United States star making $518,000.

How much do professional women’s football players earn in the UK?

Despite the Women’s Super League in England being said to be professional in name, starting salaries are thought to be around £20,000, with a number of WSL players having to work a second job alongside their football. The average women’s salary in the WSL is reportedly around £30,000

How much do WSL players make?

Contracted players have a base annual pay of $100,000, and there are also at least 22 players allocated to National Women’s Soccer League teams. Tier 1 players – of which there must be at least 11 – make an extra $67,500 per year, while the Tier 2 players make $62,500 per year.

What is the average NWSL salary?

$54,000. The average total compensation was raised to $54,000, which is significant considering the maximum salary in 2020 was $50,000 (not including players paid by the USWNT or Canadian national team).

Who is the richest WNBA player ever?

• Diana Taurasi. Phoenix Mercury. $228,094.
• Jewell Loyd. Seattle Storm. $228,094.
• Breanna Stewart. Seattle Storm. $228,094.
• DeWanna Bonner. Connecticut Sun. $227,900.
• Skylar Diggins-Smith. Phoenix Mercury.
• Brittney Griner. Phoenix Mercury.
• Elena Delle Donne. Washington Mystics.
• Natasha Howard. New York Liberty.

How much does Megan Rapinoe make per year?

Forbes estimates that Rapinoe earned $4.2 million in 2020, placing her just outside the top 10 on their highest-paid female athletes

What is the best women’s soccer league?

France’s Division 1 Feminine is considered the best league in the world and has produced seven-time Women’s UEFA Champions League winner Lyon.

Which female club has the most trophies?

Lyon is the most successful club in the competition’s history, winning the title eight times, including five consecutive titles from 2016 to 2020.

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