Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala has completed a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Women’s Premier League, signing a two-year contract with Al-Hilal after leaving Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The terms of the transfer remain undisclosed, but the signing marks another milestone in the career of Africa’s most decorated female footballer.
Oshoala, 30, joined Bay FC ahead of its inaugural 2024 season from Spanish giants Barcelona, where she lifted two UEFA Women’s Champions League trophies. During her debut campaign with the San Francisco-based club, she made history by scoring Bay FC’s first-ever franchise goal on March 17, 2024, against Angel City. She went on to finish the season as the team’s top scorer with seven goals, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
Bay FC sporting director Matt Patter praised her impact both on and off the pitch, describing Oshoala as “a world-class player and an even better person,” whose professionalism and energy helped shape the young club’s identity.
Regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time, Oshoala is a six-time winner of the African Women’s Player of the Year award, most recently in 2023. She was also part of the Nigerian Super Falcons team that clinched their record 10th Africa Cup of Nations title. Beyond continental recognition, she made history as the first African woman to be nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, narrowly missing out to Spain’s Alexia Putellas in 2022.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Oshoala’s trailblazing career continues to inspire a new generation of female footballers across Africa. Her move to Al-Hilal not only strengthens the Saudi Women’s Premier League but also highlights the growing global demand for top African talent.
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