The women's soccer transfer market looks set to take a new turn as Chelsea are reportedly close to a world record move for USWNT defender Naomi Girma.
The 24-year-old was always going to be the story of the January window after rumors emerged suggesting clubs in Europe were ready to battle for her signature. The San Diego Wave center back still has several years left on her contract with the NWSL club, so it became clear very quickly that interested clubs would have to submit a world record bid to sign her.
Racheal Kundananji, currently of Bay FC, is the current most expensive women's footballer in history following her £685,000 move from CFF Madrid last February. A report from Athletics claims this week Chelsea have agreed a deal worth £900,000 to sign Girma this month, easily surpassing the current record and by some.
It's no surprise to see Chelsea in the market for a centre-back this month after Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan suffered an ACL injury earlier in the season. Sonia Bompastor is currently relying on Nathalie Bjorn and Millie Bright as her two starting center backs, but added depth would be needed to allow them to compete on all four fronts.
Potentially signing a player of Girma's caliber, however, is another story in itself. This is not just a player signed to come in and push the current squad, this is someone capable of taking one of England's most successful clubs to even greater heights.
The words of former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes should be noted as Girma was one of the first players she singled out for praise shortly after taking charge of the USWNT last summer. “Look, she (Girma) is the best defender I've ever seen,” she told reporters during their Olympic campaign.
“I've never seen a player as good as her at the back. She has everything, poise, composure, she can defend, she anticipates, she leads. (She's) incredible.”
Chelsea were not the only club pushing to sign him this month, with WSL the rivals Arsenal also long-term admirer, according to ESPN. French giants Lyon, owned by businesswoman Michele Kang, were also closely linked, but it is testament to Chelsea's pulling power and ambition that they have come out ahead in the race and are nearing the finish line.
Chelsea to break women's world transfer record to sign Naomi Girma! 😲#BBCFutboll pic.twitter.com/AQviRpIXDN
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 22, 2025
During her college days, Girma played her soccer for the Stanford Cardinal and was then the first overall pick of the NWSL Draft in 2022. In her first season, she was named the league's Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while she also made her senior debut for the USWNT.
In 2023, she helped the San Diego Wave to the NWSL Shield and was named Defender of the Year for the second year in a row. The individual awards speak for themselves, but her presence at the back was also one of the main driving forces behind the US's push for Olympic gold last summer, as she played every minute of the tournament under Hayes.
Chelsea already boast one of the strongest defenses in the WSL, along with Arsenal and Manchester Unitedhaving conceded just six goals in their 11 games so far this season. What Girma offers will undoubtedly make them an even tougher unit to break down, but Opta also records the defender as having 91% pass completion and just shy of five progressive passes for 90 over 365 the last few days, which indicates that it may be true. asset in Chelsea's build-up game too.
While an unprecedented sixth consecutive league title is one of the main objectives for Bompastor in her debut season as Chelsea manager, there is no denying that Champions League is at the top of everyone's wish list.
The last and only English team to win the competition was Arsenal in 2007. Chelsea came very close in 2021 under Hayes when they were beaten in the final by Barcelona and the wait continues to this day.
Although this will be Girma's first taste of European football, there is no escaping that her arrival provides a significant boost to Chelsea as they look to rewrite the history books once again this season.