Chelsea has officially announced the commitment of the conductor Naomi Girma for a world record loss amount.
The defending champion of the Women’s Super League has concluded a contract with San Diego Wave worth $ 1.1 million [£881,000].
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The 24-year-old defender is the first player to be hired for a transfer fee of over one million US dollars.
Girma was unveiled on Sunday before the fully occupied stadium of the Stamford Bridge before Chelsea’s 1-0 victory against the rival Arsenal in the WSL.
When she arrived, she told the club: “I am so happy and excited to be here. It doesn’t feel real. “
“There are many things about Chelsea who have aroused the desire to come here – the culture, the winning mentality, the staff and the players.”
“It is a first -class environment for learning and growing. That’s exactly what I want to do now. The decision was easy for me. “
The Girma was the first pick in the NWSL Draft 2022 by the San Diego Wave and has been in a team and part of the team since then, which won the NWSL Shield in 2023.
She was chosen as the US soccer player of the year and represented the etc. at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The native Californian impressed on the way to the gold medal on a global level. The former Chelsea trainer and current etc. Chief Emma Hayes described her as “the best defender I’ve ever seen”.
“I’ve never seen such a good player as you at the back,” added Hayes.
“She has everything, attitude, serenity, she can defend, she anticipated, she leads.” [She’s] incredible.”
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The two-time NWSL defender of the year has been attracting the attention of European giants for some time, with Lyon and Arsenal report all interested in taking advantage of their services.
According to reports, Arsenal was not one of the final candidates for the Girma, but Lyon, who himself submitted a world record offer of $ 1 million before Chelsea won the race.
Girma is the youngest star player who leaves the NWSL team who goes through a restructuring under a new group of owners, a new general manager and a new trainer.
Star striker Alex Morgan retired at the end of last summer after she had announced that she was pregnant with her second child.
The Wave then exchanged the veterans Abby Dahlkemper, Taylor Flint and Christians Westphal and released the veterans Emily van Egmond and Sofia Jakobsson.
Chelsea urgently needed a new central defender, since Kadeisha Buchanan is currently failing due to a front cruciate ligament tear [ACL] Injury.
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You won five titles in a row and took a big step towards one sixth after victory over Arsenal.
Girma experienced how her new team defeated the Gunners with a late penalty from Guro Reit after Katie McCabe Lauren James.
Chelsea remains the league leader and in the WSL unbeaten with a lead of nine points ahead of Manchester City.
The Sonia Bombastor team is also in the quarter -finals of the Champions League, with Girma possibly preparing for immediate success in her new club.