USWNT Defender Naomi Girma Completes Record-Breaking Transfer to Chelsea
GO DEEPER
The first $1m female footballer will be a defender and that feels just right
Naomi Girma has become the most expensive transfer in women’s soccer history after completing a move from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea for a record $1.1 million fee. The 24-year-old defender has signed a deal until 2026, with the Wave prepared to lose her for the 2025 season.
Girma was under contract at the Wave until 2026, which is why the deal required a fee. This makes her the first $1 million-plus woman’s soccer player. The previous record was €735,000 paid by Bay FC for Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF in February 2024.
Girma attracted interest from elsewhere in Europe, with eight-time European champions Lyon tabling a $1m offer of their own.
"I’m so happy and really excited to be here," Girma told the Chelsea website. "It doesn’t feel real. There are a lot of things about Chelsea that made me want to come here — the culture, the winning mentality, 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."
How does Girma’s fee compare to others in women’s soccer?
Girma’s fee marks the fourth time the women’s transfer record has been broken in less than three years. It was broken twice in the space of a month in 2024. It also marks the third time Chelsea have signed a player for women’s transfer record fee, following the additions of Mayra Ramirez from Levante in 2022 and Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg in 2020.
GO DEEPER
The women’s world transfer record has been broken three times in 18 months. Is that good or bad?
Analysis from The Athletic’s tactics writer Michael Cox
Ordinarily, it takes a few games to realise the full ability of a centre-back, but something about Girma is different. An excellent reader of the game, good at covering space in behind and capable of battling physically without leaning on physicality, she seems the complete defender. Perhaps the only thing she lacks is true aerial dominance. At 1.68m (5ft 6in) tall, she’s not a towering presence and she’s only won 51.5% of her aerial battles in the NWSL last season, which isn’t a particularly reassuring figure for a centre-back. But the fact she can dominate her own penalty box despite that relative lack of aerial power almost adds to her aura.
Conclusion
Naomi Girma’s record-breaking transfer to Chelsea is a significant step forward for women’s soccer, showcasing the growth and development of the sport. Girma’s exceptional skills and abilities have earned her a spot among the best defenders in the world, and her move to Chelsea will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the women’s game.
FAQs
Q: How much did Chelsea pay for Naomi Girma?
A: $1.1 million
Q: How old is Naomi Girma?
A: 24
Q: What is Naomi Girma’s position?
A: Center-back
Q: What was the previous record for the most expensive transfer in women’s soccer?
A: €735,000 paid by Bay FC for Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF in February 2024