Colombia's Ramirez joins Chelsea for potential women's record fee

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Chelsea have signed Levante striker Mayra Ramirez for a British record fee in a move that could yet break the world record for a women's football transfer.

Spanish club Levante said they would receive 450,000 euros (£385,000) for the Colombia forward, plus up to 50,000 euros (£44,446) in add-ons.

Ramirez has scored six times in seven games for Levante this season.

The 24-year-old becomes the most expensive player in the history of British women's football, surpassing Jill Roord, who joined Manchester City from Wolfsburg for a fee of more than £300,000 in 2023.

Should all the add-ons be paid, the Ramirez deal would represent a new world record for the women's game, topping the £400,000 move of England international Keira Walsh to Barcelona in 2022.

The 24-year-old Ramirez, capped 30 times by Colombia, has scored 32 goals in 95 games across the last four years in the top division of Spanish women's football.

Her arrival in London comes after Women's Super League champions Chelsea lost Australia star Sam Kerr to a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"To be part of such a huge club is a dream come true and one I've had since I was a little girl," Ramirez said in a club statement issued Friday. 

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, speaking at a press conference, said of Ramirez: "I think everybody knows her qualities. She's so excited to be here and we're really, really excited to have her.

"Her physicality is unbelievable, it really is. She's got so much size but presence and power and she's quick with the ball. She's a threat in the box, she scores goals.

"She doesn't speak English, so two or three of us are helping her with that. It will take a little bit of time to settle. But I'm sure she will bring a lot of qualities to our league."

Hayes added she was unsure whether Ramirez would be available for league leaders Chelsea's game against Brighton on Saturday, saying: "I don't actually know. I know she has trained this morning. In terms of international clearance, I don't know at this moment in time."