Banyana Banyana captain Thembi Kgatlana's transfer to Mexican side Tigres Femenil could make her the best paid woman footballer in the world.
Kgatlana was recently signed by Tigres who play in the Liga MX from National Women's Soccer League side Racing Louisville, in a deal announced on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old's move to Mexico could see her earn a similar salary or more per year to and over global superstars competing in the Women Super League (WSL) in England and the NWSL in the United States, among top women leagues.
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The Banyana forward's transfer to Tigres was reportedly the second-highest outgoing transfer in the NWSL's history valued at $275 000 (+- R5 042 347) before additional add-ons and a 5% sell-on-clause, according to equalizersoccer.com.
Moreover, Kgatlana will reportedly earn around $550 000 (+- R1 008 469) per year at Tigres, according to the aforesaid publication, which puts her over and above what global superstars such as Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal earn.
According to the latest rankings, Australian forward Kerr was the highest paid woman footballer with a reported salary of around $528 345 (+- R9 687 633) per annum at the Blues.
In second place was Miedema with a reported annual salary of $492 210 (+- R9 025 069) she gets at the Gunners, which is a little less than what Kgatlana is reported to earn at the Mexican club.
However, generally in women's football, the biggest stars earn more from brand endorsements and sponsorship deals, which surpasses what they make from salaries.
For instance, Alex Morgan of San Diego Wave in the NWSL was reportedly the highest-earning woman footballer of 2023, taking into account her brand endorsement deals and sponsorships, which includes Swiss watchmakers Hublot, among many others, saw her gross earnings skyrocket to a reported $7.1 million.
However, in the same league, Maria Sanchez of Houston Dash is the highest-paid women footballer in the NWSL on salaries alone with a reported $375 000 (+- R 6 875 928) per year salary, which is far less than what Kgatlana is set to earn at Tigres. Another factor making the salaries of superstars at NWSL curtailed is the salary cap in the league.
Kgatlana may not be a global superstar yet but on salaries alone, her move to Mexico could make her the highest paid woman footballer or certainly one of the highest paid in the world of women's football, based purely on salary earnings.
