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USA defender Naomi Girma is poised to join Chelsea on a long-term deal, setting a new world record for the highest transfer fee in women's football. The transfer is reportedly valued at £900,000 ($1.1 million), surpassing the £685,000 paid by Bay FC for Zambia's Racheal Kundananji in early 2024. This deal will also make the 24-year-old the first female footballer to command a million-dollar fee.
Chelsea, the reigning Women's Super League (WSL) champions, faced stiff competition from French powerhouse Lyon to secure Girma's signature. Widely regarded as one of the world's best defenders, Girma is set to leave San Diego Wave, where she played under former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall. She will become manager Sonia Bompastor's first signing of the January transfer window.
The move addresses a critical gap for Chelsea, as they lost center-back Kadeisha Buchanan to an ACL injury earlier this season. Chelsea currently lead the WSL table by seven points over Arsenal and have advanced to the knockout stages of the Women's Champions League.
This record-breaking transfer follows Chelsea's British-record signing of Levante striker Mayra Ramirez for £384,000, plus add-ons, in January 2024.
Girma's rise in football has been remarkable. Selected as the first pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft by San Diego Wave, she quickly established herself as a top talent. She was named NWSL Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year in her debut season. The following year, Girma signed a three-year contract extension, played a key role in San Diego Wave's NWSL Shield-winning campaign under ex-Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, and retained her title as the league's best defender.
On the international stage, Girma has been a standout performer for the USA. She played every minute of their journey to Olympic gold in 2024 and was a bright spot during their early exit in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Her contributions earned her the prestigious title of US Soccer's Female Player of the Year.
Girma's transfer to Chelsea marks a monumental moment for women's football, further highlighting her incredible talent and paving the way for future players to achieve historic milestones.
