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Tom Hamilton
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Emilie Keogh
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Emilie Keogh
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Chelsea are closing in on signing San Diego Wave center back Naomi Girma for a world record fee, sources have told ESPN.
The transfer fee would allow Girma to become the first player to cross the $1 million mark in women’s football.
ESPN first reported Chelsea’s interest in Girma last week, with Arsenal and Lyon also keen to sign the US women’s national team star. ESPN also reported first that this would likely be the first million-dollar transfer in women’s soccer.
Girma reportedly agreed terms with Chelsea before the move. She was under contract until 2026 with the NWSL franchise, but Chelsea will pay a record sum to secure her services.
The 24-year-old is one of the highest-rated defenders of her generation and was instrumental in helping the USWNT win gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with manager Emma Hayes hailing her as “the best defender I’ve ever seen.”
Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea are looking to strengthen their centre-back options after Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Sources told ESPN that Wave favored a player swap as part of the deal, and that option was still under consideration earlier this week. But Chelsea are about to break the seven-figure mark to sign one of the best players in the world.
The world transfer record in women’s football is currently held by Racheal Kundananji, who transferred to Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $787,600.
