Harambee Starlets' striker Violet Nanjala tussles with a Moroccan opponent during their international friendly match at the Village Sportif de Tangier Stadium in Tangier, Morocco on June 7, 2025.
Harambee Starlets striker Violet Nanjala has joined a Saudi Arabian club on a one-year deal.
Nanjala, 23, joins United Eagles Women Football Club, a First Division team in Khobar, from Morocco’s Division One Feminine League side Municipal de Laayoune.
She leaves the Moroccan side after three seasons. During her time with Laayoune, Nanjala won the Golden Boot in her debut season (2022/23) after scoring 23 goals. Last season, she again snatched the honours with 28 goals and 14 assists in 26 matches. Nanjala also earned the Best Foreign Player Award both in 2022 and 2025.
Laayoune finished sixth with 45 points, 27 points behind champions AS Forces Armées Royales (ASFAR).
Speaking exclusively to Nation Sport, Nanjala said: “I am excited about the deal. Last season, the new club missed promotion to Division One by just one point. I believe I will help the club gain promotion to the Saudi Women’s Premier League.”
Regarding her short-term contract, she added, “The contract is open to renewal. I am still weighing things. If I have a successful season, I will stay. If I get a better offer, I will move. For now, I will be focused on helping the team gain promotion.”
Municipal de Laayoune and Kenya forward Violet Nanjala drives forward with the ball during their Throne Cup match against Moroccan Division Two side Ain Atiq Temara at Moulay Rachid Stadium in Laayoune on Sunday. Nanjala leads the Moroccan Women’s Championships Division One top scorers chart with 21 strikes.
Nation Sport understands that Nanjala will earn between Sh400,000 and Sh600,000 per month with a signing fee of between Sh500,000 and Sh900,000. The former Trans Nzoia Falcons (National Women Super League) player also had a short stint with Football Kenya Federation Women Premier League (FKF-WPL) four-time champions Vihiga Queens during the inaugural Caf Women Champions League Cecafa qualifiers hosted in Nairobi.
The opportunity provided valuable experience for her in the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, which caught the eye of SoccerExpo Agency founder and CEO Eugene Obiny and Director James Omondi Ombura.
“We knew she was special. Her movement, her hunger for goals, and her mentality stood out. We engaged her family, and together we charted a long-term plan for her development,” Obiny told Nation Sport.
Founded in 2016, Eagles also has foreign-based players from Morocco, Bahrain, and Algeria.
Nanjala will become the first-ever Kenyan to play in the Saudi women’s league.
By the end of the 2024/25 season, Nanjala had become one of Africa’s most accomplished and coveted forwards. Her consistent performance and scoring ability attracted interest from clubs in Morocco, Egypt, Europe, the USA, Australia, and Canada.
“After careful consideration with her family and SoccerExpo Agency, she chose to advance her career in Saudi Arabia, an emerging force in women’s football,” added Obiny.
Starlets defender Ruth Ingotsi and goalkeeper Annedy Kundu, formerly of Lakitamia FC in Cyprus, also joined European clubs through the agency. Kundu now plays for Simba Queens of Tanzania, while Ingotsi is with FKF-WPL champions Kenya Police Bullets.
FKF-WPL side Kibera Soccer Women’s striker Faith Mboya is also being considered by the agency, with a deal expected to be finalised in January.
Mboya finished as the league’s second-highest scorer with 15 goals in 11 matches, one goal behind top Golden Boot winner Rebbecca Okwaro of Bullets. This was despite joining the team mid-season from Sunderland Samba of the NWSL. Nanjala announced her departure from Laayoune and her Moroccan fans through social media on Sunday. She is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia this morning.
