Naomi Girma: Chelsea to sign USA defender for world record fee

USA defender Naomi Girma has agreed terms to join Chelsea on a long-term deal in a world record transfer.

The fee is believed to be the most expensive transfer for a female footballer, surpassing the £685,000 Bay FC paid for Zambian Rachel Kundanzi in February 2024.

Women’s Super League champions Chelsea were in competition with French giants Lyon for her signature, with Girma widely considered one of the best players in the world.

The 24-year-old is set to leave the San Diego Wave – now managed by former Arsenal boss Jonas Idewall – and become manager of Chelsea’s first January signing, Sonia Bompastor.

Girma was a priority target for Chelsea in this window, having lost centre-back Kadisha Buchanan to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Chelsea currently top the WSL table with a seven-point lead over Arsenal and have qualified for the knockout stage of the Women’s Champions League.

The club signed Levante striker Mayra Ramirez in January last year for a British record £384,000 fee plus up to £42,600 in add-ons.