Women football is growing rapidly in different regions of the world particularly in the vast African continent.
The increased dedication from different stakeholders including school coaches has started to pay fruits, as evidenced by the recent participation of the junior national team in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
Besides the continued improvement of the senior national team, Kenyan female footballers also continue to thrive at individual levels.
Many of them have landed lucrative deals from local and international clubs and transformed their lives and those of their loved ones.
SportPesa Blog looks at the five Harambee Starlets players who signed professional deals with top foreign clubs in 2024.
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Mwanalima Adam Jereko
Mwanalima Adam Jereko joined United States based side Kansas City Current in August this year.
Jereko, who is regarded is one of the best forwards in Kenya, signed a one-year contract with the club which features in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Prior to her move, the talented forward played for Turkish giants Hakkarigücü Spor where she netted 11 games in her first 17 games for the club.
The Kaloleni Secondary School product has also previously featured for Thika Queens and Mombasa Olympic Ladies.
At international level, Jereko was part of the Harambee Starlets squad that featured in the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations that was staged in Cameroon.
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Cynthia Shilwatso
Cynthia Musungu Shilwatso is the latest Kenyan female footballer to sign a professional contract abroad.
The 31-year-old joined Besiktas on Saturday, November 16 and in the process became the second Kenyan woman to sign for the Turkish heavyweights.
Her Harambee Starlets teammate Esse Mbeyu Akida played for the club in 2020 before moving to Greece.
Shilwatso has had an impressive career so far which has seen him feature for several top clubs including Spanish side EDF Logrono and Ukrainian club FC Kryvbas.
Nancy Atako and Samantha Okeyo
Highly rated forward Nancy Atako penned a deal with Greek side Flamengo FC earlier this month.
Atako, who helped Kibera Soccer Ladies secure a fourth-place finish in the Kenya Women’s Premier League last season signed a two-year deal with the club.
Flamengo FC also secured the services of Atako’s compatriot Samantha Okeyo, who joins them from Zetech Sparks.
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Janet Bundi
Former Vihiga Queens goal machine Janet Moraa Bundi is another Harambee Starlets player who joined a top foreign football club this year.
Bundi signed a one-year contract with North African club National Bank of Egypt (NBE) Women Football Club in September.
The move made her become the first Kenyan female footballer to sign a professional contract with an Egyptian club.
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