Naomi Girma sets record as most expensive female player with Chelsea transfer

USWNT defender Naomi Girma transfers to Chelsea for £900,000, becoming the most expensive female player ever.

Naomi Girma, defender for the US Women’s National Team (USWNT), has made history as women’s football’s first million-dollar player.

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea from San Diego Wave FC for a record £900,000 on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

 

 

 

 

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Girma’s signing breaks the previous record of £788,000, set by Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji when she moved to Bay FC from Madrid CFF.

Chelsea, known for setting benchmarks in women’s football, has now broken the transfer fee record three times, with earlier signings including Pernille Harder for £355,000 in 2020 and Mayra Ramírez for £542,000 in 2024.

In her first statement as a Chelsea player, Girma said, “I’m so happy and really excited to be here. There are a lot of things about Chelsea that made me want to come – the culture, the winning mentality, staff, and players. It’s a top environment to learn and grow in.”

Girma has earned 44 caps for the USWNT and played every minute of the team’s gold-medal campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes praised Girma, calling her "the best defender I’ve ever seen."

At the club level, Girma was the first pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft and made an immediate impact with San Diego Wave FC. She won NWSL Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and played a key role in the Wave’s NWSL Shield win in 2023.

Introduced to Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge before a 1-0 win over Arsenal, Girma is set to wear the number 16 shirt. Chelsea currently leads the Women’s Super League by seven points, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the title.

 

 

 

 

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