The most expensive female football transfers of all time

With the Women’s World Cup in action, you may wonder what are the most expensive football transfers of all time. 

As club competition for women’s football continues to heat up worldwide, it’s no surprise that increased transfer fees have followed suit.

While the payments may not be as astronomical as men’s, at least yet, the last two years have seen exponential growth in transfer fees for some of the best female footballers in the world. 

Let’s look at the most expensive women’s football transfers ever. 

Keira Walsh — Manchester City to Barcelona (2022)

In September 2022, Barcelona agreed a world-record fee with Manchester City for English midfielder Keira Walsh. The $400k fee crushed the previous record held by Pernille Harder at $340k. 

The historic deal emerged after the 25-year-old helped lead the Lionesses to their first-ever Euros title in the summer of 2022. To top it off, she won the 2022/23 Champions League and Liga F with Barcelona this season. 

Jill Roord — VfL Wolfsburg to Manchester City (2023)

Dutch ace Jill Roord became the second most expensive women’s football transfer ever when she signed for Man City in July 2023. 

The attacking midfielder scored 21 goals in 87 appearances during her Wolfsburg career. She also led the Netherlands team in World Cup qualifying this year, scoring seven strikes in 8 matches. 

Lindsey Horan — Portland Thorns to Lyon (2023)

Following a six-season tenure with Portland, Horan etched her name as the third highest-valued female soccer player in history upon her transfer to the French team Lyon in 2023 for $329,000. Before this, in January 2022, she had joined the club on a loan agreement, successfully claiming a Champions League victory within the same year.

Now 29, the former NWSL MVP, renowned for her exceptional ball control and adaptability, is geared up to bolster the U.S. team in her second World Cup stint.

Beth England — Chelsea to Tottenham (2023) 

Beth England struck the net 74 times in 163 appearances for Chelsea before she signed with North Londoners Tottenham in January 2023. 

With the $300,000 transfer deal, the forward became the most expensive British player in the WSL. She scored 12 goals in 12 matches for Spurs during the second half of the season, a solid performance that earned her a place on England at the 2023 World Cup. 

Pernile Harder — VfL Wolfsburg to Chelsea (2020)

In a move that made headlines worldwide for women’s football, Danish sensation Pernille Harder’s transferred from VfL Wolfsburg to Chelsea on a $340k fee in 2020. 

The feel was well-justified. The 2018 and 2020 UEFA Player of the Year scored 103 goals in 113 appearances for Wolfsburg. In the 2020-21 UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, she netted goals in both matches against her former club. 

Alex Morgan — Orlando Pride to San Diego Wave (2023)

The American forward Alex Morgan joins the list as the sixth-largest women’s football transfer ever. She joined the expansion team in 2021 before the club’s inaugural campaign in the NWSL. 

The two-time World Cup champion aims to make it a third consecutive triumph in her fourth World Cup this summer.   

The top 25 most expensive women’s football transfers of all time

Photos: Instagram/Jillroord, Keirawalsh