Chelsea has completed a world record transfer for United States defender Naomi Girma, from San Diego Wave on Sunday, becoming the most expensive player in women’s football.
The 24-year old is said to have cost Chelsea a whopping £900,000 ($1.1 million), surpassing the previous world record of £685,000 paid by Bay FC for Racheal Kundananji in February 2024.
Girma becomes Chelsea’s head coach, Sonia Bompastor’s first signing of the January transfer window. The move for Girma, comes after Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that could rule her out for the rest of the season.
With the record deal, Girma has put pen to paper which will see her remain at the club until summer 2029.
“I’m so happy and really excited to be here. It doesn’t feel real,” said Girma, who was introduced to fans at Stamford Bridge before Sunday’s 1-0 WSL win over Arsenal.
However, Bompastor revealed after the teams win over Arsenal that Girma has a “small injury” and would not be fit for the trip to Aston Villa on 2 February.
Girma, who played every minute in the USWNT victorious campaign in Paris last year, was also a crucial member of San Diego in their run towards winning the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Shield in 2023 and was named US Soccer’s female player of the year.
With her arrival at the club, Chelsea believe Girma will take them one step closer to a first European title.
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