Washington Spirit have completed the signing of Alimata Bélem from Spanish side SD Eibar, making the Burkina Faso international the first player from her country to join the National Women’s Soccer League.
The defender has signed a contract through the 2029 season, although she will remain on loan with Eibar until the end of the 2026 calendar year before joining the Spirit for pre-season next January.
While Washington have strengthened their squad with a defender who impressed in Liga F last season, the transfer carries significance well beyond the football itself.
For the first time, a player from Burkina Faso will compete in the NWSL, creating a landmark moment for both the league and women’s football in her home country.
A Historic Step for Burkina Faso
Alimata Bélem has already spent several years representing Burkina Faso on the international stage. She made her senior debut in 2019 at just 15 years old and was part of the squad that reached the country’s first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022. She is also set to represent the Lady Stallions again at this summer’s tournament in Morocco.
Now she adds another milestone. Her move to Washington Spirit makes her the first Burkinabé player to sign for an NWSL club, further expanding the growing international reach of the league while giving young footballers in Burkina Faso another example of the pathways now opening at the highest level.
Reward for Steady Development in Spain
Unlike many overseas signings who arrive after starring in major European clubs, Bélem’s journey has been built through consistent progress. She joined DUX Logroño in 2023, making 53 appearances across two seasons before helping the club earn promotion to Liga F.
That earned her a move to SD Eibar, where she immediately established herself as a regular starter. Bélem started all 29 of Eibar’s league matches during the 2025/26 season, playing more than 2,500 minutes as one of the team’s most reliable defenders.
Those performances convinced Washington Spirit to invest in her future, with the club agreeing to pay a transfer fee to secure her signature.
Why Washington Are Waiting
Although the transfer is complete, Alimata Bélem will not arrive in Washington immediately. Instead, she will continue her development with Eibar until the end of the calendar year before joining the Spirit ahead of the 2027 NWSL season.
The arrangement allows her to continue playing regular first-team football in Liga F while giving Washington time to integrate her into the squad during pre-season rather than midway through the campaign.
Sporting Director James Hocken described Bélem as a player with significant potential, adding that the club is looking forward to helping her continue developing after she arrives in the United States. It reflects a long-term approach rather than one focused only on immediate results.
Another Door Opens
The first player to reach a new league often becomes proof that such pathways exist, and Bélem’s transfer to one of the world’s leading women’s leagues is another important moment in the continued growth of women’s football in Burkina Faso.
Why It Matters
Alimata Bélem’s transfer is significant because it reaches beyond club football. By becoming the first Burkinabé player to sign for an NWSL club, she has broken new ground for women’s football in her country while earning the opportunity to continue her development with Washington Spirit after another season of regular football in Liga F.
Source: Washington Spirit
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