Gift Monday heads to Boston Legacy as the Spirit get $500,000 for the Nigerian forward

Gift Monday is changing shirts in the NWSL home stretch. The Washington Spirit have traded the Nigerian forward to Boston Legacy FC in exchange for $500,000 in the league's transfer threshold funds. Both clubs made it official on Thursday, October 8, in the middle of the FIFA international window.

According to the Spirit's statement, the deal also includes a sell-on clause: if Boston transfers or trades Monday to a third club, Washington will receive 20% of that fee.

What she leaves behind in Washington

Monday joined the Spirit in March 2025 from Spanish side UD Tenerife. In D.C. she played 48 matches across all competitions, with 12 goals and 3 assists. Her standout day came in September 2025, when she scored three times against the Houston Dash in 35 minutes and 52 seconds: the fastest hat trick from kickoff in NWSL history.

She also mattered in last year's postseason, scoring two playoff goals at Audi Field and helping the Spirit return to the NWSL Championship. Spirit sporting director James Hocken said Monday "played an integral role in helping this club reach the NWSL Championship last season" and wished her "nothing but continued success in the next stage of her career."

This season her role shrank: according to The Boston Globe, she had one goal and one assist in 18 appearances.

A bet on Boston's project

Boston Legacy are in their inaugural NWSL season. With three games left, they sit 13th with 29 points (8 wins, 14 losses and 5 draws), per the Globe. The signing looks beyond this end of the campaign.

General manager Domè Guasch said Monday brings a different profile to the attack: high pressing, chance creation and danger in the final third, plus a team-first mentality. "I'm very happy and honored to be here today as I officially join this wonderful club," the forward said in her new team's statement.

Gift Monday's path

• Roots: born in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria; she is 24.
• Early clubs: FC Robo and COD United Amazons in Nigeria.
• Spain: two and a half seasons with UD Tenerife, with more than 65 appearances and 26 goal contributions in nearly 4,500 minutes.
• National team: made her senior Nigeria debut in 2019, was part of the 23-player squad at the 2023 World Cup and has been called up by Nigeria for Olympic qualifying against Comoros.

While Monday is on international duty, her former club, the Spirit, return to action on Saturday, October 17, against Gotham FC at Audi Field. In Boston, she is expected for the final stretch of a foundational year.

Sources: Washington Spirit (official statement), Boston Legacy FC (official statement), The Boston Globe.