Professional US soccer player Naomi Girma is set to break the record for most money spent on a women’s club transfer as Chelsea FC finalizes a $1.1 million trade deal with the San Diego Wave. Once the deal goes through, Girma will be the first female player to break the $1 million trade maker. The current record is held by Rachel Kundananji, who made an astonishing $787,600 in a trade from Madrid CFF to Bay FC.
The 24-year-old center-back gained international attention after playing with the US Women’s National Team in the Paris Olympics without spending a moment on the bench. She signed a multi-year contract with the Wave, keeping her on the roster until 2026. However, Chelsea FC will do whatever it takes to secure Girma, including buying her out of her contract and outbidding Arsenal and Lyon FC.
Girma’s skills are incredibly valuable, with the USWNT manager, Emma Hayes, describing the young player as “the best defender I’ve ever seen.” She’s exactly what Chelsea FC has been looking for ever since the team’s star center-back, Kadeisha Buchanan, suffered an ACL injury.
Girma was the first overall draft pick for the San Diego Wave in the 2022 NWSL Draft. That year, she won the NWSL Rookie of the Year Award and the Defender of the Year Award, which she’d win again in 2023. She became the first NWSL player to win multiple year-end awards in her rookie season. Girma has continued to earn recognition for her talents on the field and was named the US Women’s Soccer Player of the Year in 2023. Her addition to the Chelsea roster could set the team up for another national championship and provide Girma with more international match experience ahead of the 2027 FIFA World Cup.
