Rusul Rosa Kafaji (born 5 July 2003) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club London City Lionesses and the Sweden national team.
Club career AIK (2019–2021)
Kafaji grew up in Akalla and started playing football in Kallhälls FF when she was eight years old. After that, Kafaji played for Bele Barkarby FF before she went to AIK before the 2015 season. Kafaji made her debut for the A-team in the Elitettan in 2019 and scored four goals and three assists in seven matches during the season. In the 2020 season, she scored 12 goals in 18 matches and helped AIK to be promoted to the Damallsvenskan.
BK Hacken (2022–2024)
In January 2022 she signed for Damallsvenskan club BK Hacken where she scored 28 goals in 61 appearances. She also made her debut in the UWCL scoring four goals in the 2023-24 season where Hacken made it to the quarter finals for the first time in club history. Because of her performance she was named as one of UEFAs ten players to watch in 2024. She ended her last season as club top scorer with 15 goals.
Arsenal (2024–2026)
On 13 August 2024, Kafaji joined Women's Super League club Arsenal on a long-term contract. On 20 October 2024, she scored her debut goal for Arsenal in a 2–0 away win over West Ham.
On 11 August 2025, it was announced that Kafaji would spend the 2025-26 season on loan at Brighton.
London City Lionesses On 16th July 2026, Kafaji put pen to paper on a three-year deal with London City Lionesses, arriving from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee. On 4 September 2026, she was in the starting line in the opening match of the season against Manchester United which ended in a 2-1 win for London City at home.
International career In February 2021, Kafaji was selected for the Swedish women's national team for the first time. She earned her first cap on 31 October 2021, subbing in on the 86th minute during a 1–1 draw to Italy as part of the 2023-24 UWNL campaign.
In 2024 she was called up to join the National Team in the two UWNL playoff games against Bosnia-Herzegovina on February 23 and 28. She started both games and scored her first goal for the Swedish senior women's team in the latter one.
Personal life Kafaji was born to parents who are originally from Iraq. Her father moved back there after her parents divorced.Niva, Erik. ”Aldrig känt att jag behövt vara någon annan än mig själv” , Aftonbladet, 21 mars 2021. Läst 21 mars 2021.
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAIK2019Elitettan2100——212020181200——18122021Damallsvenskan266??——266Total4619??——4619BK Häcken 2022Damallsvenskan10??——1020232612??——261220242411??—1043415Total5124??—1046128Arsenal2024–25WSL101101070191Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)2025–26WSL1923040—262London City Lionesses2026–27WSL100000—10Career total12746405017415350
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSweden2023202024102202521202620Total163
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kafaji goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Rosa KafajiNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 28 February 2024 Tele2 Arena, Stockholm, Sweden 3–0 5–0 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League2 28 November 2024 Dubočica Stadium, Leskovac, Serbia 2–0 2–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs3 2 December 2025 Nationalarenan, Solna, Sweden 2–1 2–2 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League Finals
Honours Club AIK Elitettan winner: 2020
Arsenal UEFA Women's Champions League: 2024–25
Notes
References
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