Bay FC has transferred forward Racheal Kundananji to Chicago Stars FC for $700,000 in intraleague transfer funds in the first major move for Chicago since the team hired Vlatko Andonovski as chief soccer officer.
Kundananji arrived at Bay FC in February 2024 on a transfer from Madrid CFF for a €735,000 transfer fee (about $788,000 at the time) with $75,000 in potential add-ons. At the time, the fee was a world record in women's soccer.
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"Racheal is a proven goal scorer and a fierce competitor, and we're thrilled to add a player of her quality to our roster," Andonovski said in a statement announcing the signing on Thursday.
"Her accomplishments at the league and international levels are a testament to her standards and work ethic, and we look forward to seeing the impact she will make on our team as we build for 2027 and beyond."
Kundananji scored 12 goals and added 11 assists in 63 games for Bay FC over the nearly three NWSL seasons.
She played for Zambia at the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.
Kundananji's original contract with Bay FC was a four-year contract plus an option year worth over $2 million cumulatively.
In a separate transaction announced on Thursday, the Washington Spirit transferred forward Gift Monday to Boston Legacy FC for $500,000 in intraleague transfer funds. The Spirit will also earn 20% on any future transfer.
Monday, a Nigerian international, scored 12 goals in 48 games since joining Washington last year but faced a more limited role this season as the Spirit added to their roster.
"Gift brings a unique set of qualities as a forward that will add another dimension to our attack," Boston general manager Domè Guasch said in a statement. "She will contribute to our high press, create opportunities and be dangerous in the final third. She's also a team player, and that matters to us as much as her quality on the pitch."
Both moves were completed before the NWSL's roster freeze at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. Although the NWSL's external transfer deadline was last month, teams could still make intra-league trades and roster changes until the freeze