Chelsea has reached an agreement to acquire Naomi Girma, a defender from San Diego Wave and the U.S. national team, according to a source familiar with the transfer discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The deal, which is yet to be finalized, is reported to be worth $1.1 million, making it the highest transfer fee ever recorded in women’s soccer, as noted by The Athletic.
At 24 years old, Girma was under contract with the Wave until 2026 and had attracted interest from several top clubs, including French powerhouse Lyon and Arsenal in the Women’s Super League. Since making her debut for the U.S. national team in 2022, she has played 44 matches and was part of the squad that secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
U.S. coach Emma Hayes, who previously managed Chelsea, praised Girma’s exceptional skills, calling her “the best defender I’ve ever seen” during the Olympics. Hayes highlighted Girma’s remarkable attributes, including poise, composure, and leadership on the field. Girma’s accolades also include being named the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for 2023 and winning the federation’s Young Player of the Year award in 2020. She captained the Stanford team that clinched the national championship in 2019 and was selected first overall in the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League draft, where she earned both Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year honors in her inaugural season.
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