Denver Summit FC Secures Defender Ayo Oke in Historic Transfer Deal

Denver Summit FC has reached an agreement with Mexico’s Pachuca for the transfer of defender Ayo Oke, which is set to be the highest incoming transfer fee for an American player in the history of the NWSL, according to sources reported by ESPN.

As an expansion team slated to begin play in 2026, Denver will pay Liga MX club Pachuca a transfer fee close to $450,000 for Oke, as confirmed by a source. This amount positions Oke among the most significant incoming transfer fees in NWSL history, although such figures are not always publicly disclosed by clubs.

In recent months, there have been higher intra-league transfers involving American players, including the $1.25 million transfer of USWNT playmaker Jaedyn Shaw from North Carolina Courage to Gotham FC in September. Denver’s proactive acquisition of Oke, a U.S. youth international, from abroad is significant as the NWSL seeks to amend its salary regulations to draw and retain premier talent, including domestic players.

Oke has been actively involved with the USWNT’s U23 team during recent training camps. The 22-year-old from Georgia played at both Cal and UCLA before signing her inaugural professional contract with Pachuca in January 2025.

During Oke’s initial season with Pachuca, the club secured the 2025 Clausura playoff title and finished second in the 2025 Liga MX Apertura regular season, tied on points with the eventual playoff champions, Tigres, who won the tiebreaker.

Oke will enhance a Denver expansion roster that is still being developed, with several players already signed, including former NWSL champions Kaleigh Kurtz, Ally Watt, and Carson Pickett.

This transfer fee also underscores the rapid evolution of the women’s soccer transfer market, which is increasingly accommodating younger players alongside established veterans.

The previous record for an incoming NWSL transfer was established in August when the Orlando Pride paid $1.5 million to Tigres for Jacqui Ovalle, creating a world record at that time. This amount was nearly double the previous world record set by Bay FC when they acquired forward Racheal Kundananji in early 2024. Additionally, Orlando paid a fee of $740,000 for forward Barbra Banda in early 2024.

In 2024, the Houston Dash acquired Brazilian defender Tarciane from Corinthians for an estimated fee of around $485,000, as reported by Brazilian media at the time. Tarciane was subsequently transferred to Lyon the following year for nearly double that amount.