Women’s soccer welcomes its first player to exceed the million-dollar transfer mark with the recent move of American defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave to Chelsea.
Chelsea made the official announcement regarding Girma’s transfer on Sunday, although the exact fee was not disclosed. Reports from various outlets indicate that the club has invested approximately 900,000 pounds (around $1.1 million) for her services.
This transfer breaks the previous world record set when Bay FC acquired Zambia striker Rachael Kundananji from Madrid CFF for $788,000 last year.
Interestingly, this marks Chelsea’s third instance of paying a world-record fee for a player, following their purchases of Denmark forward Pernille Harder in 2020 for $355,000, and Colombia forward Mayra Ramirez last year for $542,000.
The 24-year-old Girma had a contract with San Diego Wave that would have extended until 2026. Interest in her was also sparked from prominent clubs like French powerhouse Lyon and Chelsea’s domestic rivals, Arsenal.
On Sunday, Girma was ceremoniously introduced to Chelsea fans on the pitch before the team’s match against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in the Women’s Super League.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Girma stated, “I’m so happy and really excited to be here. It doesn’t feel real.” She further explained the appeal of Chelsea, highlighting its culture, winning mindset, and the quality of its staff and players. “It’s a top environment to learn and grow in. Right now, that’s what I’m looking to do. It was an easy choice for me,” Girma added.
Since making her debut for the U.S. national team in 2022, she has participated in 44 matches and was part of the roster that secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
In recognition of her exceptional performance, Girma was honored as the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for 2023, having previously won the Young Player of the Year award in 2020. U.S. national coach Emma Hayes, formerly of Chelsea, remarked that Girma is “the best defender I’ve ever seen” during her Olympic tenure.
“Naomi is a world-class defender who is now coming into the prime years of her career,” stated Paul Green, Chelsea’s head of women’s football. He added that her composure, game-reading skills, pace, and athleticism will bring considerable value to an already talented team.
Girma previously captained the Stanford University team to a national championship in 2019 and was the number one pick in the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League draft by the Wave. In her inaugural season, she earned both Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year accolades.
