Racheal Kundananji has become the first-ever African player, male or female, to break a world transfer record.
The 23-year-old Zambian made the switch from Madrid CFF to Bay FC in the American National Women’s Soccer League for £685,000 (about R13.7-million).
The fee surpasses the previous record held by Keira Walsh’s £400,000 (about R8-million) move from Manchester City to Barcelona two years ago.
Kundananji began her playing days in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province six years ago. In 2019, she moved from Zambia’s Indeni Roses to BIIK Kazygurt — Kazakhstan’s biggest women’s club.
Her move to the US comes after scoring 33 Liga F goals in 43 games for Madrid over 18 months.
The stature of her transfer is something that Kundananji is yet to fully process, but she says that she looks forward to making her homeland proud.
“People in Zambia will be surprised but they will be so happy,” Kundananji told BBC Sport Africa.
“A lot of people have encouraged me to work hard and some even said, ‘maybe one day you’ll break some records’.
“This is the first one and I know there are more coming. I will do my level best and fight every time I play, like I always do.
“I want to give the Bay FC fans what they want — to enjoy the games, to enjoy seeing me playing and scoring.”
Pictured above: Record-breaking Racheal Kundananji.
Image source: @jeffkassouf
