Women’s football breaking transfer fee records: A closer look at gender disparity in the game

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Barbra Banda
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In recent weeks, the Football Association of Zambia has garnered attention for all the right reasons. The Copper Queens’ victory over the Black Queens of Ghana has placed them just two games away from securing back-to-back Olympic campaigns.

Adding to the buzz, Racheal Kundananji, a standout player, made headlines as the world’s most expensive female footballer following her $880,000 transfer to Bay FC from Madrid CFF.

This move shattered the previous record of $513,000 held by Kiera Walsh when she transitioned from Manchester City to Barcelona. Kundananji’s remarkable 18-month stint in Spain, where she scored 33 Liga F goals in 43 games, evidently persuaded Bay FC of the American National Women’s League to secure her services.

Shortly after Kundananji’s record-breaking transfer, her national team colleague, Barbara Banda, claimed the second spot on the list of the most expensive women’s transfers.

Banda, aged 23, made waves during her time with Chinese side Shanghai Shengli, scoring an impressive 17 goals in 12 games. This performance attracted the attention of Orlando Pride, another American National Women’s League side, who secured her services for a significant $740,000.

However, how do these figures compare to the men’s game? In January 2023, Manchester United rejected two world-record bids from Arsenal for then-24-year-old Alessa Russo, with the second offer reaching nearly $642,000.

To put this in perspective, it’s only 25% higher than the weekly wage of Manchester City’s top earner, Kelvin De Bruyne, the Premier League’s highest-paid player.

While men’s clubs in the UK and Europe’s top leagues frequently splash the cash on transfers, the women’s game still sees limited activity in terms of transfer fees.

In 2022, the total spent on international transfers in women’s football amounted to $3.5 million, a record high and a 62% increase compared to 2021. However, this figure pales in comparison to the valuation of the world’s 500th most valuable player in men’s football, which stands at $38.5 million.

For instance, the highest-valued player in men’s football, Jude Bellingham, valued at $196.7 million, is 254.01% more valuable than the world’s most expensive female footballer, Racheal Kundananji. To put it into perspective, Bellingham’s fee alone could secure the services of 200 female footballers equivalent to Kundananji’s value.

A recent FIFA report revealed that men’s clubs spent a record $9.6 billion on international transfers in 2023, compared to just $6.1 million in the women’s game, despite an 84.2% increase in women’s transfers.

While women’s football is rapidly evolving, especially in the transfer market, it has yet to reach the heights of Trevor Francis’ $1.3 million move to Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City in 1979. However, it’s only a matter of time before players emerge who command million-dollar valuations or more.

By Frank-Kamal Acheampong | 3Sports | Ghana