Nigerian star striker Asisat Oshoala has officially completed her move to Al Hilal in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, sealing a new chapter in her illustrious career.
The 30-year-old arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and successfully completed her medical, finalizing the deal just before the transfer window closed. The two clubs had agreed on a transfer fee for the Super Falcons forward, making her one of the biggest signings in the history of the Saudi women’s game.
From Bay FC to Riyadh
Oshoala joined Bay FC, the NWSL expansion side, last year ahead of its debut season after five trophy-laden years at Barcelona. She went on to make 38 appearances for the California-based team, scoring eight goals. Bay FC finished seventh in the 2024 NWSL season, reaching the playoffs before bowing out in the quarter-finals against Washington Spirit. This season, however, the team has struggled, sitting 11th after just four wins in 17 games.
A Career Full of Success
Oshoala’s journey began in Nigeria with Robo FC and Rivers Angels, before she earned moves to England’s Liverpool and Arsenal in the Women’s Super League. In 2017, she joined Dalian Quanjian in China, where she spent nearly two years before signing with Barcelona in 2019.
At Barcelona, Oshoala reached the peak of her club career winning five consecutive Liga F titles and lifting the UEFA Women’s Champions League twice (2021 and 2023). She scored over 100 goals for the Catalan giants and became one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.
Internationally, Oshoala remains a legend of African football. She is a six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year and has won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations four times, including earlier this year with Nigeria.
New Challenge in Saudi Arabia
Al Hilal, who finished sixth in the Saudi Women’s Premier League last season as the competition expanded from eight to ten teams, now welcome one of the game’s most recognizable names. Oshoala’s arrival is expected to raise the club’s profile and strengthen their bid to challenge for silverware in the rapidly growing Saudi league.
For Oshoala, the move represents not just a new adventure but also an opportunity to inspire and leave her mark on women’s football in another part of the world.
