Naomi Girma's Record Transfer to Chelsea

Naomi Girma, a star defender from the United States women's national team, is set to transfer from San Diego Wave to Chelsea FC Women for a record-breaking fee of $1.1 million. This transfer sets a new milestone in women's football, surpassing the previous record held by Racheal Kundananji's move to Bay FC for around $860,000. Girma, widely regarded as one of the best defenders globally, has agreed to personal terms with Chelsea and is expected to undergo a medical in London shortly. Her move was highly contested, with Lyon also making a significant bid, but Chelsea emerged as her preferred destination. The transfer underscores the increasing financial investment in women's soccer and could influence the market dynamics in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and beyond. Girma's transfer is part of a broader turnover for the San Diego Wave, which has seen several key players move on recently.