Chelsea lead Arsenal, Lyon in race to sign Naomi Girma – sources

Chelsea are leading the race to sign San Diego Wave centre-back Naomi Girma, while Arsenal and Lyon are also interested in the United States women’s national team star, sources have told ESPN.

Girma, 24, is under contract until 2026 with the NWSL side, so any deal will need a sizeable transfer fee. One source told ESPN it could become the first $1 million transfer in women’s football.

Girma is one of the highest-rated defenders of this current generation and was instrumental in helping the USWNT achieve gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Manager Emma Hayes said Girma is “the best defender I’ve ever seen. Ever. I’ve never seen a player as good as her in the back.”

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has admitted she is looking to bolster their options at centre-back following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan, and several sources have told ESPN Girma is top of their wish list.

Bompastor’s former club Lyon, owned by businesswoman Michele…