Chelsea adds Naomi Girma, the most expensive signing in the history of women’s football

Chelsea women’s team has confirmed the incorporation of American defender Naomi Girma, who has become the most expensive signing in the history of women’s football after the English club has paid more than one million euros to the North American San Diego Wave.

The 24-year-old player arrives from the San Diego Wave in exchange for 1.1 million dollars -1.05 million euros-, surpassing the previous record of 862,000 dollars -821,265 euros- paid by the American Bay FC in February 2024 by Zambian forward Racheal Kundananji.

Girma becomes the first million-dollar transfer in women’s football, after the ‘Blues’ won the bid against French Olympique Lyonnais. “I’m very happy and excited to be here. It doesn’t seem real. There are many things at Chelsea that made me want to come here: the culture, the winning mentality, the staff and the players. It’s a first-class environment to learn and grow.” said Girma.

The North American is Sonia Bompastor’s first signing in the winter market and arrives after defender Kadeisha Buchanan was ruled out, probably for the rest of the season, due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Chelsea’s head of women’s football, Paul Green, highlighted that Girma is “a world-class defender.” “She is in the best years of her career. Naomi has showcased her talent in the NWSL, where she has won several individual awards, and has excelled on the international scene with the United States, where she won the gold medal this summer at the Olympic Games. There is no doubt that she is ready to take the next step in her career and we are delighted that it is with Chelsea,” he noted.

Girma first attracted attention during the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, in which the United States was eliminated in the round of 16, and played every minute of her country’s victorious Olympic campaign in Paris, after being named best player of the year by US Soccer.