Washington Spirit sign Tanzanian striker Clara Luvanga from Al Nassr

The Washington Spirit have acquired Tanzanian striker Clara Luvanga from Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia for an undisclosed transfer fee, the club announced Wednesday. The 21-year-old signed a four-year contract through 2029.

“Clara adds an exciting new dimension to our attack as we head towards the playoffs,” Spirit sporting director James Hocken said in a statement. “Despite her young age, she has demonstrated the ability to score goals in different ways and has the profile to be very successful in this league.”

Luvanga lifted the Saudi Women’s Premier League trophy in each of her three seasons at Al Nassr, in addition to a Saudi Women’s Cup win, a Saudi Women’s Super Cup title, and a West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Women’s Clubs Championship. She also won the Golden Boot last season, scoring 24 goals in 14 matches.

Luvanga was not named to Tanzania’s final roster for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament this summer, but her age and rise through the ranks of global women’s football will only make her more of a lock for future competitions.

“When you look at her goals, they’re not always fancy, but clinical,” Spirit vice president of soccer operations Haley Carter told The Athletic ahead of the announcement. Carter likened Luvanga’s game to that of Zambian striker Barbra Banda, whom she recruited to the Orlando Pride in 2024 when she was the club’s general manager.

What Luvanga can bring to the Spirit

The Tanzanian’s skill set could round out the attacking portfolio on a Spirit side already bursting with creativity. Currently second in the NWSL table with 43 points, two behind league leaders Gotham, the Spirit’s top scorer is Trinity Rodman, who has 10 goals on the season, followed by Italian forward Sofia Cantore, who has five.

Luvanga’s calm presence in front of goal extends beyond her years; many of the goals she scored for Al Nassr came about after chasing down a through ball and losing her defenders with searing pace, and then cooly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

In signing Luvanga, the Spirit now have seven African players on their roster representing six countries. In July, the D.C. club brought in two midfielders in 2026 WAFCON champion Monique Ngock of Cameroon and Melissa Bethi of Algeria. Both joined the Spirit after impressive runs at the African competition; Ngock was named Woman of the Competition, and Bethi helped her Algerian side qualify for their first-ever World Cup and an historic third-place finish. Cameroon’s first-ever WAFCON victory also earned them automatic qualification for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

The Spirit also signed defender Alimata Bélem of Burkina Faso over the summer before loaning her out to Spanish side SD Eibar through the end of the season.

That trio, plus Luvanga, will join forward Gift Monday and defensive midfielder Deborah Abiodun, both of Nigeria, and winger Rosemonde Kouassi of the Ivory Coast. Abiodun was placed on the season-ending injury list over the weekend, freeing up an international roster spot that allowed the Spirit to make a move for Luvanga’s signature.

Washington faces expansion side Boston Legacy at home in its next match on Sunday, Sept. 13. It will also host the 2026 NWSL Championship on Nov. 21 at Audi Field.