Washington Spirit, a team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), have signed Clara Luvanga, a 21-year-old striker from Tanzania, from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. While the transfer fee has not been officially confirmed, some reports suggest it could be around $2.3 million (about £1.7 million), potentially making Luvanga the most expensive female footballer in history. However, BBC Sport has not verified this figure, and the club has not commented on the amount. If accurate, the fee would rank among the top five most expensive signings in women’s football. Luvanga’s contract with the Spirit will last until the end of the 2029 NWSL season, marking a significant career shift for the young player, who becomes the first Tanzanian to play in the NWSL. Luvanga has had a successful career in Saudi Arabia, winning the Saudi Women’s Premier League three times with Al-Nassr, as well as the Saudi Women’s Cup, Saudi Women’s Super Cup, and the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women’s Clubs Championship. She also earned the league’s golden boot last season by scoring 24 goals in just 14 matches. The Washington Spirit are owned by Michele Kang, who also owns the London City Lionesses, another club that made high-profile signings this summer, including Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner. Luvanga made her senior debut for Tanzania in 2024 and previously played for DUX Logrono in Spain before joining Al-Nassr in 2023. She has spoken about her excitement about joining the Washington Spirit, saying she is eager to take on the new challenge in the NWSL, even though the season has already started. The Spirit’s sporting director, James Hocken, praised her as a dynamic forward with the potential to succeed in the league, despite her young age. Luvanga’s career has developed rapidly from Tanzania to one of the top women’s football leagues in the world. She started with Yanga Princess, a Tanzanian club, before moving to Spain and then to Saudi Arabia, where she became a key player for Al-Nassr. During her time there, she had the chance to meet Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr’s men’s team, and has cited him as an inspiration. Beyond her footballing skills, Luvanga is also known for her dancing, as noted by her former teammate at Al-Nassr. Her move to the NWSL represents a major step in the international growth of Tanzanian women’s football, and she joins a team with a strong African presence, including seven African internationals. While she has not yet made a significant impact for Tanzania at the senior level, her journey from Tanzania to the NWSL highlights the growing global reach of women’s football.