Washington Spirit sign Tanzanian striker Clara Luvanga in potentially record women's transfer

Washington Spirit announced the signing of 21-year-old Tanzanian striker Clara Luvanga from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, securing her on a contract that runs through the 2029 NWSL season. Although the club did not disclose the transfer fee, a well-placed source suggested it could be about $2.3 million (approximately £1.7 million), a figure that would rank the deal among the top five most costly in women’s football and potentially make Luvanga the most expensive female player ever.

Luvanga arrives as the first Tanzanian to feature in the NWSL after a dominant spell in Saudi Arabia, where she helped Al-Nassr win three league titles, the Saudi Women’s Cup, Super Cup and the WAFF Women’s Clubs Championship, and claimed the league’s golden boot with 24 goals in 14 matches. Sporting director James Hocken praised her ability to add a new dimension to the attack, while owner Michele Kang, who also controls London City Lionesses, has been active in the market, recently adding Alexia Putellas to the Lionesses roster. Luvanga made her senior debut for Tanzania in 2024, though injuries have limited her involvement in recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaigns.