A new FIFA report says $6.8 million was spent on women’s international transfers during the mid-year period from June 1 to September 1, 2024, almost double what was spent during the same period in 2023.
At international level, 1,125 transfers were registered in women’s football, a new record and an increase of 31.8% compared to the 829 transfers recorded in the same period last year.
Most of the transfers involved out-of-contract players signing a new contract with an international club, with 939 players transferring as free agents, while only 109 were permanent transfers requiring a fee.
Money spent on transfers in women’s football has also more than doubled since last year, with the average amount clubs spend on a player also increasing.
According to FIFA’s report, clubs spent an average of $71,400 on each transfer including fees, a sharp increase from the average of $45,000 spent in 2023 and $33,800 in 2022.
The United States was the country that recorded the most transfers, with 128 new players. This is partly due to the introduction of the United Soccer League (USL), which operates as a second league after the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) but from the fall to the summer, aligning with the international calendar.
The Women’s Super League (WSL) recorded 63 incoming transfers and 76 outgoing transfers, resulting in $2.33 million spent and $1 million received in transfer fees.
The share of all transfers in women’s professional football that include such fees continues to rise and is now approaching 10% of the global total, the report said.
More than $6.4 billion has been spent on men’s football transfers during the 2024 mid-season window.
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