Copper Queens captain and all-time goal scorer, Barbra Banda, has joined the United States of America’s Orlando Pride from Shanghai Shengli.
Banda’s move to Orlando Pride comes just a month after her compatriot Racheal Kundananji was signed for a world-record transfer fee of $787,000 by Bay FC from Madrid CFF, with another $80k in potential add-ons.
She has signed a four-year contract with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side for a $740,000 transfer fee, according to the statement by Orlando Pride.
This means Banda has become the second-most expensive player in women’s football history after Kundananji.
Last Wednesday, she became the first Zambian male or female player to reach 50 international goals since Godfrey Ucar Chitalu, who set a Zambian record of 79. Banda scored twice against Ghana in the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers to achieve the feat.
Banda to play with legendary Marta
The Copper Queens skipper will now be teammates with Brazilian legend Marta da Silva, who is widely regarded as the best female footballer of all time.
Marta has won the FIFA World Best Player of the Year award six times. The 38-year-old is Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 115.
She is also the only player to score 17 goals in FIFA Women’s World Cup history.
Orlando Pride, which was founded in 2015, finished seventh in the NWSL last year and is aiming to compete for the title in 2024.
Their first league match this year will be against Racing Louisville on March 16.
Meanwhile, reacting to her transfer, banda said: “I am very excited to join Orlando Pride. It’s a great club and I love what they’re building. The National Women’s Soccer League is one of the most competitive and strongest leagues in the world so it’s very humbling to get a chance to play in it.
“Since my first meeting with the club and the General Manager, I knew this was a club I wanted to join. I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and start working with them. I hope to help the team in my small capacity to do great things and win a lot of trophies together.”
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