The women’s soccer transfer market looks set to take another turn as Chelsea close in on a world-record move for USWNT defender Naomi Girma.
The 24-year-old was always going to be the story of the January window after rumors emerged suggesting clubs across Europe were ready to fight for his signature. The San Diego Wave center still has a couple of years left on her contract with the NWSL club, so it became clear that interested clubs would have to submit a world-record bid to sign her.
Racheal Kundananji, currently of Bay FC, is the most expensive female footballer in history following her £685,000 move from Madrid CFF last February. A report of The Athletic claims this week Chelsea have agreed a deal worth £900,000 to sign Girma this month, comfortably beating the current record by some distance.
It’s no surprise to see Chelsea in the market for a centre-back this month after Canada international Kadeisha Buchanan injured her ACL earlier in the campaign. Sonia Bompastor currently relies on Nathalie Bjorn and Millie Bright as two starting centre-backs, but the depth would need to be increased to be able to compete on all four fronts.
However, potentially signing a player of Girma’s caliber is another story in itself. This is not just a player signed to come in and boost the current squad, but someone capable of taking one of England’s most successful clubs to even greater heights.
The words of former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes are worth noting, as Girma was one of the first players she praised shortly after taking charge of the USWNT last summer. “Look, she (Girma) is the best defender I’ve ever seen,” he told reporters during his Olympic campaign.
“I’ve never seen a player as good as her in the back. She has everything, balance, composure, she can defend, she anticipates, she leads. She’s incredible.”
Chelsea weren’t the only club pushing to sign her this month WSL rivals arsenal also long-time admirers, according ESPN. French giants Lyon, owned by businesswoman Michele Kang, were also heavily linked, but it is a testament to Chelsea’s power and ambition that they have stepped up in the race and are closing in on the finish line.
Chelsea are set to break the world women’s transfer record to sign Naomi Girma! 😲#BBCFutbol pic.twitter.com/AQviRpIXDN
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 22, 2025
During her college days, Girma played soccer for the Stanford Cardinal and was then the first overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. In her first season, she was named Rookie of the Year and Defensive the League of the Year, while also making her USWNT senior debut.
In 2023, she helped the San Diego Wave to the NWSL Shield and was named Defender of the Year for the second year in a row. The individual accolades speak for themselves, but his presence at the back was also a major driving force behind the U.S.’s pursuit of Olympic gold last summer, as he played every minute of the tournament with Hayes.
Chelsea already have one of the strongest defenses in the WSL, alongside Arsenal and Manchester Unitedhaving conceded just six goals in their 11 games so far this season. What Girma offers will no doubt make them an even tougher unit to break down, but Opta also records the defender has completed 91% of passes and is close to five progressive passes per 90 over the past 365 days , which indicates that it could be a real one. also in Chelsea’s warm-up game.
While an unprecedented sixth consecutive league title is one of Bompastor’s main goals in his debut season as Chelsea manager, there is no denying that the Champions League it’s at the top of everyone’s wish list.
The last and only English team to win the competition was Arsenal in 2007. Chelsea approached Hayes very carefully in 2021 when they were beaten in the final by Barcelona and the wait continues to this day .
While this will be Girma’s first taste of European football, there’s no escaping that his arrival provides a significant boost to Chelsea as they look to rewrite the history books once again this season.
