U.S. Women’s National Team star Naomi Girma has become the first million-dollar female soccer player after English club Chelsea paid a record transfer fee and signed the American defender to a long-term contract.
British media reported the club agreed to pay roughly 900,000 pounds ($1.12 million) to acquire Girma, who was under contract with the NWSL’s San Diego Wave until 2026.
‘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,’ Girma, 24, said in a club statement.
Chelsea announced the signing on Sunday before its Women’s Super League game against Arsenal.
Girma is considered to be one of the world’s best defenders, playing every minute of the 2024 Paris Olympic tournament where the Americans won gold with a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final.
The Wave selected Girma with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NWSL draft and she went on to win both the league’s top defender and rookie of the year awards that season.