Chelsea agree world record transfer fee for defender in push for historic season | OneFootball

The BBC are reporting that USA defender Naomi Girma has agreed personal terms to join Chelsea this month for a world record transfer fee.

The details have not emerged fully yet, but the fee is believed to be the most valuable ever for a female footballer, reaching something in the region of £900,000. That makes her the world’s first million dollar player, but not quite the first million pound player.

Born in California, the 5’6 central defender has played her whole career in her home state. She has 44 USA caps before her 25th birthday, and is now ready to move to Europe and try her luck in the WSL and Champions League.

Chelsea continue to break record and break new ground in women’s game

Naomi Girma playing for the USA. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

24 year old Girma plays for San Diego Wave, and is considered one of the best defensive players in the world. The ACL and MCL injuries that have devastated the Blues’ squad this year have left a hole at the back, with defender Kadeisha Buchanan the latest to go down with a serious problem.

However with new manager Sonia Bompastor having led them unbeaten to the top of the table with a 7 point cushion over second placed Arsenal, the Blues will be confident that an addition of this quality will be just what they need to ensure they retain the title they won so dramatically on the final day last season.

They are still on both cups and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League too – it’s the perfect time to make a major addition like this.

It’s just over a year since the Blues signed Mayra Ramirez for more than £400,000, setting a transfer record that’s set to be more than doubled now. A jump of that size shows the ongoing rapid growth in the women’s game.