Tanzania striker Clara Luvanga has completed a historic move to Washington Spirit, with reports placing the transfer fee at about $2.3 million.
The 21-year-old has signed a four-year contract through 2029 after leaving Saudi champions Al-Nassr for the National Women’s Soccer League.
Washington Spirit confirmed the transfer on Wednesday but did not disclose the amount paid to Al-Nassr for the Tanzanian international.
African football journalist Micky Jnr reported the fee at around $2.3 million, a figure which would establish a new women’s transfer record.
If that valuation is accurate, Luvanga would move beyond the biggest publicly reported deals involving Lizbeth Ovalle, Grace Geyoro and Olivia Smith.
Guinness World Records currently lists Ovalle’s 2025 move from Tigres to Orlando Pride at about $1.48 million as its recognised benchmark.
Other recent deals have also been reported around that level, including Geyoro’s move to London City Lionesses and two major 2026 transfers.
Felicia Schröder joined Real Madrid from Häcken for a reported €1.5 million, while Kerolin joined Barcelona from Manchester City for the same amount.
Washington’s announcement confirms that a transfer fee was paid, although the American club has not publicly verified the reported $2.3 million figure.
Regardless of the final amount, Luvanga’s move is already historic because she becomes the first Tanzanian player to join the NWSL.
The forward arrives in Washington after three successful seasons with Al-Nassr, where she developed into one of African women’s football’s leading young scorers.
She helped Al-Nassr win three consecutive Saudi Women’s Premier League titles alongside domestic cup honours and the 2026 WAFF Women’s Clubs Championship.
Luvanga also finished the 2025/26 Saudi league season as the competition’s leading scorer after finding the net 24 times.
Her rise began at Yanga Princess in Tanzania before a move to Spanish side DUX Logroño opened her first opportunity in European football.
She spent only a short period in Spain before Al-Nassr recruited her in 2023, beginning a productive three-year spell in Saudi Arabia.
At international level, Luvanga emerged prominently during Tanzania’s youth programme and scored ten goals in the 2022 Under-17 World Cup qualifying campaign.
She later established herself with the senior national team, further strengthening her reputation as one of Tanzania’s most important football exports.
Washington sporting director James Hocken said Luvanga gives the Spirit another attacking dimension because of her ability to score in different ways.
Luvanga said she was excited by the new challenge and wanted to contribute immediately as Washington continue their push toward the NWSL playoffs.
For Tanzania, the transfer extends a remarkable journey from Yanga Princess to Spain, Saudi Arabia and now one of women’s football’s strongest leagues.
For African women’s football, the reported fee would carry greater significance by placing an African player at the top of the global transfer market.