Football star, Kundananji seals $700,000 move to Chicago Stars

Zambian football star, Rachael Kundananji, has left Bay FC to join fellow National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Chicago Stars in a deal reportedly worth US$700,000 (over K13.9 million).

Kundananji joined Bay FC in February 2024 from Spanish club Madrid CFF in a record-breaking transfer valued at US$860,000, making her the most expensive female footballer in history at the time.

The forward’s move to Chicago Stars comes after an impressive spell in the United States, where she continued to establish herself as one of Africa’s leading women’s footballers.

Her initial transfer to Bay FC surpassed the previous world record fee for a women’s player, underlining her growing global profile following her performances in Spain and with the Zambia women’s national team.

The 25-year-old striker has been a key figure for the Copper Queens, helping Zambia qualify for major international tournaments and becoming one of the country’s most recognised sporting exports.

The latest transfer, while lower than her record move to Bay FC, remains among the biggest deals in women’s football and highlights the increasing commercial value of elite female players.

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