CHICAGO, United States — Racheal Kundananji has joined Chicago Stars from Bay FC in a $700,000 intra-league transfer, and will stay through the 2027 NWSL season.
The Zambia forward announced it herself. “I am thrilled to announce that I have joined Chicago Stars FC. A big thank you to Bay FC for the time and memories shared. A new home and I hope for the best to come. Zambia Ku Chalo.” She will report once she is back from international duty. The NWSL is paused for the FIFA window.
She is the first signing under new Chicago chief soccer officer Vlatko Andonovski, and she takes an international roster spot. “Racheal is a proven goal scorer and a fierce competitor,” Andonovski said. Kundananji said she could not wait to meet the fans and give everything for the badge.
At Bay she was an inaugural player and leaves as the club’s all-time leading scorer: 12 goals and 11 assists in 63 appearances, 54 of them starts, 4,902 minutes. She scored on her NWSL debut against the Houston Dash on 30 March 2024, and was part of the side that made the playoffs in Bay’s first season.
“I am grateful to Bay FC for bringing me to the NWSL and giving me the opportunity to be part of this club from the beginning,” she said. Chief football officer Paul Green thanked her for the first seasons and wished her well in Chicago.
Bay receive $700,000. Chicago get a Zambia international who has already scored in this league. The move is done. The first training session waits until the international window closes.