Source: Al-jazeera, BBC News
For a record-breaking transfer price of $1.1 million (about £890,000), Chelsea Women have made history by acquiring U.S. defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave. This transaction sets a new standard for women's football as it is the first time a move has cost more than $1 million.
Background and Career Highlights
Many people consider 24-year-old Naomi Girma to be among the top defenders in women's football. She has been voted the NWSL's Defender of the Year twice and was instrumental in the U.S. Women's National Team's gold medal win at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Girma, who was selected first overall in the 2022 NWSL draft, has continuously dazzled on the field.
After Chelsea outbid other interested parties, including French powerhouses Olympique Lyon and Arsenal, the deal was completed. A sizable transfer fee was required to obtain Girma's early release because her contract with the San Diego Wave was scheduled to expire in 2026. Girma's injury to Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan increased Chelsea's interest in him, and the transfer was a calculated attempt to strengthen their defense.
Girma said she was thrilled to be joining Chelsea and attributed her decision to the team's winning mentality and culture. Prior to Chelsea's match against Arsenal, she was unveiled at Stamford Bridge, which was a momentous occasion for the player and the team. Girma's skills were commended by Paul Green, Chelsea's head of women's football, who noted her poise, quickness, and athleticism as important assets to the squad.
In addition to breaking a previous financial record in women's football, Naomi Girma's move to Chelsea highlights the increased funding and popularity of women's sports around the world. It is anticipated that this transfer will improve Girma's career on the global scene and increase Chelsea's competitiveness in the Women's Super League.
