Photo by IMAGO
The Nigeria international has enjoyed a successful career in Europe and the United States before heading to Mexico for a second stint
Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu has completed a move to Mexican giants Cruz Azul Femenil, Soccernet.ng reports.
With a statement on their official website, the Mexican giants confirmed the arrival of the Super Falcons star ahead of the Liga MX Femenil Clausura 2026 season.
The 28-year-old becomes Cruz Azul’s sixth signing of the transfer window, as La Máquina continue an ambitious rebuild designed to push them into genuine title contention.
Kanu returns to Mexican football after three seasons in the United States with Racing Louisville in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The World Cup striker was recently spotted arriving in Mexico City, fuelling speculation that was formally ended on Monday evening when Cruz Azul announced her signing, describing her as a ‘champion, World Cup player and experienced attacker’ who will strengthen their frontline.
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Nigeria’s Kanu: A proven winner returns to Mexico
Kanu is no stranger to Liga MX Femenil. In December 2021, she made history by becoming the first African player to feature in the league when she joined Tigres Femenil. Her impact was immediate and decisive.
Across 38 appearances for Tigres, she scored 23 goals and provided six assists, playing a key role in the club’s Apertura 2022 title-winning campaign. That spell established her as one of the most effective foreign attackers in the league and paved the way for her move to the NWSL.
Her time at Racing Louisville was disrupted by injury, but it still included notable moments, including the fastest brace in league history and a reputation as one of the club’s most dangerous forwards when fit.
Born in Abia State, Nigeria, in 1997, Kanu began her career in American college football with Southeastern University in Florida before turning professional with Pensacola FC. She later featured for Sevilla in Spain and Linköping FC in Sweden, finishing as runner-up in the Swedish league’s scoring charts.
At international level, Kanu is one of the most recognisable figures in Nigerian women’s football. She represented Nigeria at the 2019 and 2023 Women’s World Cups, scoring a crucial goal against co-hosts Australia at the latter tournament. She also featured at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and helped Nigeria reach the semi-finals of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
With 40 caps and 22 goals, she is currently Nigeria’s fourth-highest goalscorer of all time.
A versatile attacker capable of operating out wide or through the middle, Kanu brings pace, direct running and clinical finishing; qualities Cruz Azul will hope can drive them deep into the Clausura 2026 title race.