South Africa’s WAFCON-bound Wade secures Europe move

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)-bound South African midfielder Jessica Wade has joined Finnish side Åland United.

 

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The exciting talent has signed a two-year contract from the Hollywoodbets Super League side JVW FC, effective 2026.

A statement from the Kansallinen Liiga team’s director Pierre Persson confirms the signing of the midfielder.

“I am very pleased with the signing of Jessica Wade, an exciting central midfielder who has just had her first and is currently on her second training camp with the South African national team,” Persson said.

“She has also gained significant experience playing with the South African U20 and U17 national teams. Jessica has two really strong feet and brings excellent passing skills in both long and short play, and not least, she has a really good strike and is an experienced goal scorer with both her left and right foot.”

The midfielder, who is part of the South Africa women’s team that is preparing for WAFCON, has since expressed her delight at securing the big transfer.

“I am incredibly grateful to sign with Åland United and to start my journey with a club that has already shown so much trust and faith in me. I can’t wait to get started,” Wade told Åland United’s website.

Jessica Wade’s rise through the ranks of JVW

Wade first joined JVW at the age of 11 and rose through the Johannesburg-based team’s structures such as for the under14 and under-16.

She earned her first team appearance aged 16 while also competing in the JVW Schools League, where she was Waterstone College’s outstanding player.

The midfielder skippered South Africa’s under-17 women’s team and made appearances at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in 2018.

Wade earned promotion to South Africa under-20 before signing a professional contract with the University of Johannesburg followed by a move to an Israeli team.

The Banyana Banyana player rejoined JVW in 2024. JVW is a women’s professional football club based in Bedfordview, Gauteng. Lauren Duncan and former South Africa women’s team skipper Janine van Wyk own the team.