Chelsea are on the brink of making Naomi Girma the first million-dollar player in women’s football, but what will she add to the Blues’ ranks?
Women’s football is reaching new heights, and this winter transfer window is likely to continue to break records.
It won’t surprise fans that at the heart of this progress are Chelsea, as the Blues continue to drive standards and innovation in the women’s game.
According to widespread reports, Chelsea are on the brink of smashing the transfer record fee to sign San Diego Wave and United States star Naomi Girma, with the club poised to pay around $1.1 million to bring her to London.
The defender has been in high demand since playing a pivotal role in the USWNT’s success at the Olympics last summer, and the 24-year-old has been described by former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who is now in charge of the USA:
“She’s the best defender I’ve ever seen,” Hayes said after her side’s semi-final victory against Germany at the 2024 Olympics.
With praise from arguably one of the best coaches of all time, there is little surprise that she has demanded such a high figure.
This fee will easily surpass the current world record transfer sum set by Bay FC who signed Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF in February 2024 for $860,000 (£685,000).
In terms of a fee paid by an English club, this would smash the record by an even bigger margin. Chelsea signed Colombia striker Mayra Ramírez last January for €450,000 (worth around £384,000 at the time) plus up to €50,000 in add-ons. Girma’s transfer will be more than double that of her new teammate.
But what makes Girma so special and why have European giants such as Chelsea and Lyon been fighting it out for her signature?
A Shining Light of the Stars and Stripes
Despite the USWNT recording their worst-ever finish at a World Cup in 2023 and being knocked out in the last 16 by Sweden, there was a glimmer of light for the side at the tournament. A young Girma played in her first World Cup and was part of a defence that allowed just one goal at that tournament across the four 90 minutes they played.
That year, she was named the 2023 USWNT Player of the Year and her impact on the national team has continued. She’s been key for new boss Hayes and played an enormous role in the team’s impressive success in Paris when they won the gold medal.
All tournament success is built on a solid defence, and the USWNT certainly displayed their defensive fortitude in Paris. They conceded just two goals across the entire tournament, the joint-fewest by any team, while also recording a tournament-high four clean sheets.
USA ended the tournament with three consecutive clean sheets, becoming the first team in Olympic history to not concede a goal in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Key to their success was Girma, who racked up the most minutes (600) of any player in the tournament, with her importance meaning Hayes ensured she played every single minute.
The 24-year-old had also done so in the 2023 World Cup and, across the two major tournaments, has helped the team keep seven clean sheets in her 10 matches.
In Paris, she made more passes (610), carries (200) and clearances (31) than any other player at the tournament, and also boasted the best pass accuracy (95.0%).
What Girma Brought to the NWSL
There was much anticipation and buzz around the young defender ahead of the 2022 NWSL draft.
She was selected as the first pick in the draft by the San Diego Wave, establishing an early reputation for a player who would swiftly become one of the league’s best defenders.
From her NWSL debut in May 2022 until the end of the 2024 season, Girma won the most possession in the defensive third (304), and made the joint-most progressive ball carries (548).
In fact, she ranked among the top four for blocks (55 – third), clearances (287 – second) and successful passes (3213 – fourth), maintaining a solid level of performance on both sides of the ball during her time in the competition.
Girma has been named NWSL Defender of the Year on two occasions, in 2022 and 2023 respectively, helping the San Diego Wave to win the NWSL Shield in the latter under ex-Manchester United boss Casey Stoney.
In 2024, she continued her solid performances for the Wave, finishing with the best passing accuracy of any player to attempt 600+ passes, completing 91.4%. She also ranked in the top 10 in the league for total clearances with 95.
Over the course of the season, she appeared in 20 matches, playing 1,715 minutes, ranking among the top five players in the league for blocks, having made 22, and duels won, winning 67.0% of them in all competitions.
Her time at the San Diego Wave has led to their collective success and she will be hoping to replicate that as she moves to Chelsea.
Why Do Chelsea Need Her?
Sonia Bompastor and Chelsea are looking for winners as they attempt to do what no other English side has done since Arsenal won the quadruple in 2007.
Chelsea are currently unbeaten in all competitions and have looked unstoppable this season.
Even under Hayes, the Women’s UEFA Champions League eluded them, but adding Girma to their ranks of superstars could be the final piece of the puzzle, especially after beating continental rivals Lyon to her signature.
Her arrival comes at a good time too – Chelsea, like all WSL clubs, have lost major players to ACL injuries and the loss of Kadeisha Buchanan after a bright start to the season does leave the Blues short on quality in that area of the pitch.
Chelsea do currently boast one of the best defensive records in the WSL, conceding the second-fewest goals (six) and keeping the second-most clean sheet (seven, behind Arsenal), so Bompastor will be hoping their quick move to add defensive cover will keep that intact.
Girma provides additional qualities to complement her new teammates like Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright. Her intelligent positioning, strength and ability to read the game in front of her while also showing raw athleticism will give them an additional layer to their defence.
With the games now coming fast and thick in all competitions, it is a timely addition to ensure they remain in control in the WSL, with their lead currently six points over Arsenal, ahead of their big top-of-the-table clash this weekend.
But make no doubt about it, such a significant transfer is a move they hope can provide that elusive Champions League crown and start a new era of success under Bompastor.
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