Chelsea agree to pay world record fee for American defender

Chelsea agree to pay world record fee for American defender

Hassan Abdulsalam 16:22 - 22.01.2025

The 24-year-old will join Chelsea from San Diego Wave for a world-record fee.

Chelsea has agreed to pay a world-record fee to secure the signing of USA defender Naomi Girma on a long-term deal.

The Blues are set to make Girma the first female footballer to secure a seven-figure transfer fee, reportedly around £900,000 ($1.1 million).

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The deal will surpass the previous record of £685,000 paid by Bay FC for Zambia's Racheal Kundananji in February 2024.

Chelsea wins race for highly-sought after defender

The seven-time English Women's Super League champions competed with French giants Lyon for Girma's signature.

One of the world's top defenders will join Chelsea to mark manager Sonia Bompastor's first signing of January following centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan's ACL injury.

Chelsea continues to set transfer records. They signed Levante striker Mayra Ramirez for £384,000, plus potential add-ons of £42,600, setting a British record transfer fee last January.

Sonia Bompastor's team currently leads the WSL table by seven points over Arsenal and also advanced to the knockout stages of the Women's Champions League.

Naomi Girma's performance

Since her debut in April 2022, Girma has appeared 44 times for the USA and won gold with Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games.

San Diego Wave selected her as the first pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. She was subsequently named both the NWSL Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year in her debut season.

In 2023, she signed a new three-year contract and played a major role in the San Diego Wave's win of the NWSL Shield under former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney.

The 2024 Olympic gold medalist earned her second consecutive NWSL Defender of the Year award in 2023.

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