Eight years ago, Zambian women’s national team striker Racheal Kundananji was playing barefoot on the dusty pitches of Chilibombwe in Zambia’s Copperbelt province; however, it is no surprise that she is now the world’s most expensive female football player.
Kundananji started her football career with Konkola Queens in Chililabombwe before moving to Indeni Roses in Ndola in 2017, where she impressed national team selectors by scoring 21 goals in 18 games in the FAZ Women’s Copperbelt provincial league.
Kundananji impressed for the national team while at Indeni Roses, scoring three goals in three matches at the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), earning her breakthrough move to Kazakhstan’s BIIK Shymkent at the age of 18 and a monthly salary of $1,500, including free accommodation.
She moved to Liga F side Eibar in 2021, where she scored in the Uefa Women’s Champions League, before signing with Madrid CFF the following year.
Following her impressive performances in Madrid, where she scored 33 Liga F goals in 43 games, as well as a goal in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Costa Rica, she piqued the interest of many clubs worldwide.
She was also the second-highest scorer in the Spanish Women’s League for Madrid CFF last season, with 25 goals, and it was only a matter of time before a major move.
“I just want to continue working hard and doing everything to improve my career because I want to play at the highest level,” Kundananji told Bolanews.
On Tuesday, Bay FC of the American National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) completed the record signing of the Zambian from Madrid CFF for a total of $860,000 (K23,026,500) making her the most expensive player in the history of women’s football.
“I won’t put myself under pressure”- Kundananji
However, Kundananji will not put herself under any pressure to impress at San Jose’s 18,000-capacity PayPal Park.
“I won’t put myself under pressure. My goal is to continue where I ended in Madrid and to achieve bigger things,’ she told BBC Sport Africa in an interview.
“I’ll never give up because if I give up, I’ll disappoint the young girls who message me asking advice about how they can get the best out of themselves.”
Kundananji hopes she will not be the last Zambian to break a world record, inspiring girls back home to pursue their dreams while remaining disciplined.
“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.
“What I really want to say to girls is that they just need to follow their dreams and do what they love doing. Many of our parents will force us to do what we don’t love but then we end up with regrets,” she added.
“Choose your own path and work hard; then, as time goes on, your parents will support you.”
