Grace Chanda Bio
Grace Chanda (born 11 June 1997) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. She is widely recognized for her goal-scoring ability and her role in helping the Zambia women’s national team reach its first Olympic Games. As of January 2026, she plays for Liga MX Femenil club Querétaro, having previously represented clubs in Zambia, Kazakhstan, Spain, and the United States.
Standing 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) tall, Chanda has built a career across four countries and multiple continental competitions. In 2022, she was one of three players shortlisted for the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award, a recognition that cemented her place among the leading midfielders in African women’s football.
Early Life and Background
Grace Chanda was born on 11 June 1997 in Kasama, a city in the Northern Province of Zambia. Growing up in a country where women’s football was still developing, she found her path into the sport through local youth setups that nurtured her natural talent. Her early environment, paired with a strong family encouragement of sport, helped shape her competitive character.
From a young age, Chanda showed an eye for goal, a quality that would later become a defining feature of her career. She began training with organized teams in her hometown, where her technical ability and reading of the game stood out. Those early years in Kasama provided the foundation for what would become a remarkable professional journey.
Path to Professional Soccer
Chanda’s first major professional step came in 2015, when she joined ZESCO United in the Zambian top flight. It was there, during the 2018 season, that she announced herself on a national stage by scoring 86 goals in 26 games, a striking return that highlighted her attacking instincts from midfield. Her performances quickly made her one of the most talked-about talents in Zambian football.
When the Football Association of Zambia launched the FAZ Women’s Super Division in 2021, Chanda signed with Red Arrows ahead of the new national championship. She finished the 2021 season as the top scorer with 35 goals and was named FAZ Women’s Player of the Year, an individual honor that confirmed her status as the country’s leading player and set the stage for a move abroad.
Grace Chanda Career
Early Career (2015–2021)
Chanda began her senior career with ZESCO United, where she developed into one of the most prolific midfielders in the Zambian Women’s League. Her 86 goals in 26 games during the 2018 campaign remain a benchmark of her scoring form. After five years with ZESCO, she moved to Red Arrows in 2021, helping the club finish as runners-up in the inaugural FAZ Women’s Super Division.
Her time at Red Arrows was brief but exceptionally productive, with 35 goals earning her the league golden boot and the FAZ Women’s Player of the Year award. Those performances drew the attention of clubs outside Zambia and laid the groundwork for her transition to European football in early 2022.
BIIK Kazygurt Breakthrough (2022)
In March 2022, Chanda signed with BIIK Kazygurt of the Kazakhstani Championship, marking her first move outside Africa. She wasted no time making an impact on the European stage. On 18 August 2022, she scored a hat-trick on her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut in a 5–1 victory over ŽNK Split during the 2022–23 qualifying stage. She became the first Zambian women’s footballer to score a hat-trick in the competition.
Her Champions League debut instantly elevated her profile and demonstrated her composure on the biggest club stage in women’s football. Although her time in Kazakhstan was short, the hat-trick served as a career-defining moment that signaled her readiness for top European leagues.
Madrid CFF Era (2022–2024)
On 3 September 2022, Chanda signed with Madrid CFF in Spain’s Liga F on a two-year contract. She made her league debut on 24 September in a 3–1 win against FC Levante Las Planas, and in October she scored and provided an assist in a 4–0 victory over Real Betis. She also netted the equalizer as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Atlético Madrid. She finished the 2022–23 season with three goals and two assists, helping Madrid CFF to a fifth-place league finish.
The 2023–24 season proved more difficult. After falling ill at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Chanda was hospitalized in New Zealand throughout August 2023 and was unable to play for most of the campaign. She returned to light training with Madrid in September 2023 but did not return to action until May 2024, a stretch that tested her resilience and patience.
Orlando Pride Era (2024–2025)
On 30 May 2024, Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League announced the signing of Chanda as a free agent on a deal running through 2025, with an option for 2026. She was set to join the club after the 2024 Paris Olympics, but a ruptured quadriceps tendon in her right leg suffered on international duty in August 2024 placed her on the Season-Ending Injury list. Orlando Pride filed a grievance with FIFA against the Football Association of Zambia over the handling of her injury.
After recovering, Chanda made her NWSL debut on 19 April 2025 as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss to the Washington Spirit. On 2 September 2025, she recorded her first Orlando Pride start in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match against Alajuelense. She made seven appearances across all competitions before mutually departing the club in January 2026.
Notable Events and Milestones
Chanda’s hat-trick on her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut in August 2022 stands as one of the signature moments of her career, making her the first Zambian woman to achieve the feat in the competition. She was also the top scorer with eight goals at the 2020 CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the campaign that booked Zambia’s first-ever Olympic place.
Grace Chanda Career Wins
Chanda’s verified trophy collection includes honors earned at club level with BIIK Kazygurt and Orlando Pride, as well as individual awards in Zambian football. Her most notable individual recognition came in 2021 when she was named FAZ Women’s Player of the Year after a 35-goal season for Red Arrows.
Club and International Highlights
Chanda was part of the BIIK Kazygurt squad during the 2022–23 UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying stage, where her hat-trick against ŽNK Split was the highlight of the campaign. She also featured for Orlando Pride across the 2024 and 2025 NWSL seasons, contributing in the regular season and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup.
Other Performances
At international level, Chanda helped Zambia reach the 2018 and 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations, and she was central to the 2020 CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, in which her eight goals carried Zambia to its first Olympic appearance.
Grace Chanda Family
Personal Life
Chanda has cited American striker Alex Morgan as a football idol, reflecting her admiration for high-caliber professionals in the women’s game. Beyond that, she has kept her personal and family life largely private, and there is limited verified public information about her relatives or relationships.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign marked Chanda’s first full NWSL season with Orlando Pride after her 2024 injury setback. She returned to the field in April 2025 and gradually worked her way back into the matchday squad, drawing praise from the coaching staff for her professionalism during a long rehabilitation. By September 2025, she had earned her first start in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup against Alajuelense, signaling her full return to competitive football.
Across all competitions, Chanda made seven appearances for Orlando Pride in 2025, contributing as a rotational midfielder. Her time on the pitch, though limited, was valued by the club as part of a deep squad competing in both the NWSL and continental competition.
Following the 2025 season, Chanda and Orlando Pride mutually agreed to part ways in January 2026, opening the door for her next chapter at Querétaro in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil. The move reflects her ongoing ambition to compete at the highest level and extend her career into a new footballing culture.