Chelsea to smash women’s transfer world record with million-dollar defender | OneFootball

Chelsea are reportedly set to sign San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma in a move expected to smash the women’s transfer world record.

Girma, who has earned 44 caps for the United States, is expected to sign for about £900,000 (~$1.1 million), comfortably beating the previous record of £685,000 (~$862,000) set when Bay FC signed Racheal Kundananji from Real Madrid earlier this year.

Chelsea are quickly gaining a reputation for dictating spending habits in the women’s game. They set the British women’s transfer record a year ago, signing Mayra Ramirez from Levante for £384,000 plus add-ons.

Girma is reported to have signed a long-term contract with the Blues and will be a crucial addition to Sonia Bompastor’s injury-hit squad. With centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan out for the foreseeable with an ACL injury, the 24-year-old will likely play a key role in the WSL run-in and Champions League knockout rounds.

Girma is widely considered to be among the best defenders in world football, with a reputation for composure and leadership.

Legendary former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who now manages Girma at national level, described her as such after winning gold at the Paris Olympics, saying: “Look, she’s the best defender I’ve ever seen. Ever.”

She started every match of the USWNT’s gold-medal run, keeping four clean sheets along the way.

She was named USA Women’s Player of the Year in 2023 and will join up with fellow Eagles Mia Fishel and Catarina Macario on arrival at Cobham.

While with the San Diego Wave, she has won the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup and 2023 NWSL Shield. She is also a collegiate national champion with the Stanford Cardinals.

Chelsea faced stiff competition for her signature, namely from 17-time French champions Olympique Lyonnais, where Bompastor became the first woman to win the Champions League as both a player and a coach.