It has been coming for some time, but the women’s game finally has its first $1 million transfer. United States defender Naomi Girma is now the most expensive player in women’s soccer history as her $1.1m move to Chelsea from the San Diego Wave, announced on Sunday, surpassed the previous world record, when Bay FC spent $767,000 to secure the signing of forward Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF in February 2024.
Girma, 24, is widely regarded as the world’s best centre-back (and finished No. 2 in ESPN’s list of the 50 best female players in November), but nobody would have expected a defender to be the one to break the record.
Upon joining, ahead of the game against Arsenal, she told the club website: “I’m so happy and really excited to be here. It doesn’t feel real. There are a lot of things about Chelsea that made me want to come here — the culture, the winning mentality, staff and players. It’s a top environment to learn and grow in. Right now, that’s what I’m looking to do. It was an easy choice for me.”
So, how did this megadeal come about? Tom Hamilton, Emily Keogh and Jeff Carlisle analyse the biggest transfer in women’s soccer.
A long-standing interest
Chelsea had long-standing interest in signing Girma, and former Chelsea boss and current USWNT…
