Chelsea set to sign USA’s Girma for world-record fee

USA defender Naomi Girma has agreed to terms with Chelsea on a long-term contract for a world-record transfer fee.

The deal, believed to be around £900,000 ($1.1 million), makes Girma the most expensive female footballer ever, surpassing the £685,000 Bay FC paid for Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji in February 2024.

At 24, Girma will also become the first female player to command a million-dollar transfer fee.

Chelsea, the Women’s Super League champions, faced competition from French giants Lyon for her signature. Girma is widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the world.

She will leave San Diego Wave, managed by former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall, to join Chelsea, marking the first signing for Lyon’s manager, Sonia Bompastor, this January.

Girma was a priority target for Chelsea after the injury to centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Currently sitting atop the WSL table with a seven-point lead over Arsenal, Chelsea has also reached the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League.

Last January, Chelsea signed Levante striker Mayra Ramirez for a British-record £384,000, plus potential add-ons of up to £42,600.

Why was Girma so highly sought after?

Girma’s talent has been apparent for years, with San Diego Wave selecting her as the first pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft. She was named both NWSL Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year that season.

In 2023, Girma signed a new three-year deal and helped San Diego win the NWSL Shield under former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney. She was again named the league’s top defender for the second consecutive year.

On the international stage, Girma has been a key figure for the USA. Despite their early exit in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, she was one of the standout performers. She was also named US Soccer’s Female Player of the Year and played every minute of the USA’s successful Olympic gold run in 2024.