Chelsea Signs USWNT Star Naomi Girma in Record-Breaking Transfer

LONDON, England — Chelsea FC Women has secured the signing of U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) defender Naomi Girma in a record-breaking transfer deal. The 24-year-old joins the English champions from San Diego Wave for a reported £900,000 ($1.1 million), making her the first million-dollar player in women’s soccer history.

Girma, who signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, was introduced to Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday ahead of the team’s 1-0 Women’s Super League (WSL) victory over Arsenal. The deal surpasses the previous transfer record of $788,000 set by Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji last year.

“I’m so happy and really excited to be here. It doesn’t feel real,” Girma said in a club statement. “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.”

Girma arrives with an impressive resume, having played every minute for the USWNT during their gold medal-winning campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics under former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes. She was also a standout performer at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, earning US Soccer’s Female Player of the Year honors.

“Naomi is a world-class defender who is now coming into the prime years of her career,” Chelsea’s head of women’s football said. “Her composure on the ball, ability to read the game, coupled with her pace and athleticism, will add top quality to an already very talented squad.”

The San Diego native began her professional career as the first overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. In her three seasons with the Wave, Girma earned Rookie of the Year (2022) and back-to-back NWSL Defender of the Year awards (2022, 2023). She also helped the club secure the NWSL Shield in 2023 and was nominated for FIFA’s Best Women’s Player award in 2024.

Girma’s signing marks the third time Chelsea has broken the women’s transfer record, following the acquisitions of Pernille Harder ($355,000 in 2020) and Mayra Ramírez ($542,000 in 2024). The Blues currently lead the WSL table, seven points clear of Manchester United.

The defender, who will wear the No. 16 jersey, brings 44 international caps and a reputation as one of the game’s most complete defenders. “She’s the best defender I’ve ever seen,” Hayes said during the Olympics. “I’ve never seen a player as good as her at the back. She’s got everything — poise, composure, she can defend, she anticipates, she leads. Unbelievable.”