Just a decade ago, Lizbeth Ovalle was enduring ten-hour bus journeys just to train with Tigres. Now, she’s the most expensive player in women’s football history.
Ovalle’s $1.5m (£1.1m) switch to Orlando Pride breaks the transfer record set only last month when Canadian forward Olivia Smith joined Arsenal for £1m. That’s two broken records in little more than a month – a sign of just how fast the women’s game is moving, both on and off the pitch.
Who is Lizbeth Ovalle?
Since debuting in 2017, Ovalle has been the beating heart of Tigres’ dominance, scoring 133 goals in 283 games and collecting a glittering six league titles along the way.
Nicknamed “La Maga” (The Magician), she’s known for her dazzling dribbles and eye for goal. At international level she’s already got 64 caps and 18 goals for Mexico, and at 25, she’s still only just hitting her prime.
Player Snapshot
- Age: 25
- Place of birth: Aguascalientes, Mexico
- Height: 5ft 3in
- Position: Winger
Career stats
- 2017–25: Tigres UANL — 283 apps / 133 goals
- 2018– : Mexico — 64 apps / 18 goals
Senior honours
- Tigres UANL:
- Liga MX Femenil (6): 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Campeón de Campeonas (3): 2021, 2023, 2024
- Mexico:
- Pan American Games (1): 2023
Who Are Orlando Pride?
Founded in 2015, Orlando Pride are one of the NWSL’s flagship clubs. The Pride made history in 2024 by winning both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship, securing their first major silverware. They currently sit fourth in the league table with nine games to play.
Top 5 Women’s Transfer Fee’s Of All Time
- Lizbeth Ovalle → Orlando Pride — £1.1m, 2025
- Olivia Smith → Arsenal — £1m, 2025
- Naomi Girma → Chelsea — £883k, 2025
- Tarciane → Lyon — £797k, 2025
- Racheal Kundananji → Bay FC — £675k, 2024
What This Means
Ovalle’s transfer is more than another headline fee. It represents:
- Liga MX Femenil’s growth as a genuine exporter of elite talent.
- The NWSL’s emergence as a league willing to invest heavily to attract international stars.
- A wider global trend of escalating fees, with three record-breaking deals inside 18 months.
The bar has been raised. The only question now: who will be the next to smash it?
