Naomi Girma: USA defender could be Chelsea’s missing piece in Champions League hunt | OneFootball

The women’s football transfer market is seemingly about to take a fresh twist as Chelsea reportedly close in on a world-record move for USWNT defender Naomi Girma.

The 24-year-old was always going to become the story of the January window after rumours emerged suggesting clubs in Europe were ready to battle it out for her signature. The San Diego Wave centre back still has a couple of years remaining on her contract with the NWSL club, so it became clear quite quickly that interested clubs would have to present a world-record bid to sign her.

Racheal Kundananji, currently of Bay FC, is the current most expensive women’s footballer in history following her £685,000 move from Madrid CFF last February. A report from The Athletic this week claims Chelsea have agreed a deal worth £900,000 to sign Girma this month, which comfortably exceeds the current record and by some distance.

It is no surprise to see Chelsea in the market for a centre back this month after Canada international Kadeisha Buchanan sustained an ACL injury earlier in the campaign. Sonia Bompastor is currently relying on Nathalie Bjorn and Millie Bright as her two starting centre backs, but increased depth was going to be necessary to allow them to compete on all four fronts.

To potentially sign a player of Girma’s calibre, however, is another story in itself. This is not just a player signed to come in and push the current squad, this is someone capable of taking one of England’s most successful clubs to even greater heights.

The words of former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes should be noted as Girma was one of the first players she singled out for praise shortly after taking charge of the USWNT last summer. "Look, she [Girma] is the best defender I've ever seen," she told reporters during their Olympic campaign.

"I've never seen a player as good as her at the back. She's got everything, poise, composure, she can defend, she anticipates, she leads. [She's] unbelievable."

Chelsea were not the only club pushing to sign her this month, with WSL rivals Arsenal also long-term admirers, according to ESPN. French giants Lyon, owned by businesswoman Michele Kang, were also heavily linked, but it is testament to Chelsea's pulling power and ambition that they have stormed ahead in the race and are approaching the finish line.

During her college days, Girma played her football for the Stanford Cardinal and was then the first overall pick of the NWSL Draft in 2022. In her first season, she was named the league’s Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year, while she also made her senior debut for the USWNT.

In 2023, she helped San Diego Wave to the NWSL shield and she was named Defender of the Year for the second year running. The individual accolades speak for themselves, but her presence at the back was also one of the key driving forces behind the USA’s quest for Olympic gold last summer as she played every minute of the tournament under Hayes.

Chelsea already boast one of the strongest defences in the WSL, alongside Arsenal and Manchester United, having conceded just six goals in their 11 games so far this term. What Girma offers will undoubtedly make them an even tougher unit to break down, but also Opta records the defender as having a 91% pass completion and just shy of five progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days, which indicates she could be a real asset in Chelsea's build-up play as well.

While an unprecedented sixth league title in a row is one of the top targets for Bompastor in her debut season as Chelsea boss, there is no denying that the Champions League is at the top of everyone’s wish list.

The last and only English team to win the competition was Arsenal back in 2007. Chelsea came painstakingly close in 2021 under Hayes when they were beaten in the final by Barcelona and the wait continues to this day.

Although this will be Girma’s first taste of European football, there is no escaping that her arrival provides a significant boost to Chelsea as they look to rewrite the history books once again this season.