Chelsea set to seal Naomi Girma transfer with USA star due to sign for WSL leaders
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NAOMI GIRMA is set to join Chelsea for a world-record transfer fee from NWSL side San Diego Wave. The deal for the USA international is thought to be around £900,000 ($1.1m), surpassing the £685,000 fee Bay FC paid for Zambia ace Racheal Kundananji.
![[Naomi Girma #4 of the US Women's National Soccer Team with the ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/naomi-girma-usa-ball-womens-965736568.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Chelsea’s swoop for the player, who is 24, comes two months after their centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during their defeat of Liverpool. It will also see them beat Lyon to Girma's signature with the eight-time Champions League winners believed to be keen on the defender.
![[Naomi Girma #4 of San Diego Wave FC controls the soccer ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/4-san-diego-wave-fc-965736725.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
According to ESPN Chelsea are thought to have agreed terms with Girma, who is a key figure in the USA team managed by former Blues boss Emma Hayes. The California-born ace is one of the sport’s most highly-rated defenders and a player ex-San Diego Wave boss Casey Stoney believes will be a “massive gain” for the club.
![[US Women's National Team head coach Emma Hayes embraces a player after a game.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/united-states-head-coach-emma-922214849.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The centre-back played a significant role in helping her national side to win a gold medal in the women’s football tournament at last year’s Olympics in Paris. Hayes, who guided Chelsea to seven WSL title wins during her 12-year reign, described her as a player who is “unbelievable” on the pitch.
![[Chelsea soccer players celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/erin-cuthbert-chelsea-celebrates-scoring-964999153.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Last August, the USA Women’s boss said: "She's got everything, poise, composure, she can defend, she anticipates, she leads. She’s unbelievable.". Girma performances led to her being included in Fifa’s 2024 Best Women’s 11 side. This line-up, which is dominated by Barcelona stars, also includes England and Blues right-back Lucy Bronze.
