Alessia Russo to Arsenal: The most expensive women's football transfers ever

Manchester United's Alessia Russo has been subject to a last-gasp world record bid from Women's Super League title race rivals Arsenal.

The 23-year-old turned down an offer to sign a contract extension with the Red Devils last year, and she will subsequently leave for free at the end of the season.

But with Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead both on the sidelines with long-term injuries, Arsenal are hoping to get another attacker in before the end of the January transfer window.

Manchester United have rejected the initial bid for Russo, but talks are reportedly not quite over.

GiveMeSport Women have subsequently listed the most expensive women’s football transfer of all time.

It must be noted that a number of fees for women’s football transfers are undisclosed, particularly in the United States. This list is made up of reported fees or those which have been made public, giving a general indicator of the most expensive transfers in history.

9) Ellie Carpenter (Portland Thorns – Lyon, Undisclosed)

Carpenter, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, was purchased by Lyon from Portland Thorns in June 2020.

The fee for the 22-year-old defender, who has already made 57 appearances for Australia, was not disclosed. But the transfer was widely reported as one of the most expensive in women’s football history.

8) Valérie Gauvin (Montpellier – Everton, €100,000/£86,200)

Gauvin moved to Women’s Super League club Everton in August 2020 after an impressive season with Montpellier, which included 14 goals in 16 appearances.

Everton saw fit to spend a club record fee on the striker, but unfortunately Gauvin’s time on Merseyside did not work out. She scored five times in 27 appearances before a transfer to North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.

7) Hanna Bennison (FC Rosengård – Everton, £185,000/€159,500)

Everton broke their transfer record again in August 2021, signing Swedish sensation Hanna Bennison.

The deal was widely reported to be six figures, and Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet set the price between £120,000 and £185,000. Bennison has since made 22 appearances for Everton, scoring once.

6) Sofie Svava (Wolfsburg – Real Madrid, €200,000/£172,500)

Real Madrid signed Svava, the young Danish defender, in January. According to MARCA, the 22-year-old went for €200,000, a record fee for Real’s Femenino side.

The young star has since made 13 appearances for her new club, also playing for Denmark during Euro 2022.

5) Lauren James (Manchester United – Chelsea, €235,000/£202,600)

James moved from Manchester United to Chelsea in a record transfer between two Women's Super League clubs.

She had helped the Red Devils gain promotion to the WSL, scoring 14 goals in 18 matches during the 2018/19 campaign.

James only made five appearances for her new club last season, but the 20-year-old recently earned her first cap for England in a World Cup qualifier.

4) Milene Domingues (Fiamma Monza – Rayo Vallecano, €235,000/£202,600)

Domingues, the former wife of Brazilian superstar Ronaldo Nazario, has an intriguing story.

After the former SC Corinthians player married Ronaldo and gave birth to their son, Domingues returned to football and joined Italian side Fiamma Monza while her husband was at Inter Milan.

When Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2002, Domingues also transferred to Spain. Rayo Vallecano provided a world record fee and a reported annual wage of €36,000 (£31,000), but the midfielder soon discovered she wouldn’t be able to play professionally for the club.

Only Spanish players were allowed to play in the women’s top division at the time, with Domingues only able to compete in friendly matches.

3) Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg – Chelsea, £250,000/€290,226)

Chelsea broke the bank for Pernille Harder in September 2020. Having scored 68 times in 75 appearances for Wolfsburg, it’s easy to understand why.

The 29-year-old has since won two Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea, hitting the back of the net 15 times in 38 appearances for the club.

2) Beth England (Chelsea – Tottenham Hotspur, £250,000/€290,226)

Beth England playing for Tottenham Hotspur

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Bethany England of Tottenham Hotspurs during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Brisbane Road on January 25, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur broke the transfer record between two WSL clubs earlier this season, signing striker England to help get past the team's goal deficit.

The 28-year-old had spent six years with Chelsea, scoring 74 goals in 164 appearances, but decided to seek pastures new after struggling to get time on the pitch in recent seasons.