The Orlando Pride have officially signed Zambia forward Barbra Banda to a four-year contract with the second largest transfer fee in NWSL history at $740,000.
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According to sources, the four-year deal is valued at $2.1 million, which includes bonuses. The transfer agreement also involves a negotiated sell-on clause for any future transfer of Banda.
Banda joins the Pride for the 2024 NWSL season following several seasons with the Chinese Women’s Super League, Shanghai Shengli, where she scored 16 goals and recorded five assists last season.
“Barbra is a natural born goal scorer and one of the most physically imposing forwards in the world,” said Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations and General Manager, Haley Carter.
“Turning only 24 years old this month, we have every confidence she will be an impact player in our attack for years to come. We are excited to help her grow and expand upon the various layers of her game and cannot wait to see her in purple.”
Who is Barbra Banda?
Barbra Banda is a Zambian footballer who plays forward for Chinese club Shanghai Shengli and captains the Zambia women’s national team.
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Banda, born on March 20, 2000, began playing football on the streets when he was about seven years old.
After being inspired by Zambian professional boxer Catherine Phiri, Banda began boxing at the age of 14 as an amateur, and after never losing a battle and other amateurs unwilling to face her, she turned professional. Banda participated in five professional bouts, winning all five, before deciding to focus on football.
She was inspired by her father, who played football and encouraged her to practice. She played with boys because the academy she attended didn’t have a girls’ squad.
In 2020, she became the first female footballer in Olympic history to score consecutive hat tricks, as well as the first to score two hat tricks in a single competition. In 2020, she was the leading scorer in the Chinese Women’s Super League.
As of July 2021, she is Africa’s all-time leading Olympic scorer.
In September 2022, Banda led Zambia to their first COSAFA Women’s Cup victory, the premier women’s international football tournament for Southern African national teams. Her 10 goals earned her the Golden Ball Award.
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