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Transfer of $1 million
Chelsea sign USWNT’s Naomi Girma
We’ve known for some time that U.S. Women’s National Team defender Naomi Girma is invaluable.
She has led the San Diego Wave and the United States in that rugged center back role. She has won an NCAA Championship title, an NWSL Shield, two Defender of the Year awards, and an Olympic gold medal.
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes called her “the best defender” she had ever seen. “So far.”
And now Chelsea Women’s team are investing a record $1.1 million in transfer fees to bring Girma into the squad, The Meg reports today. The Women’s Super League side have agreed terms with San Diego, where Girma’s contract runs until 2026, but a new contract with Chelsea has not yet been finalized.
Chelsea previously held the transfer record when they acquired Colombian striker Maira Ramirez from Levante in Liga F in 2024 for more than $500,000. That record stood for several weeks until Bay FC signed Rachel Kundananji, almost doubling the price. He then transferred the transfer fee of $862,000 to Madrid CFF.
Girma was a key component in the United States’ Olympic gold medal win last summer. But before that, she was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft and won the Rookie of the Year and inaugural Defender of the Year titles in her first season.
Chelsea aren’t the only club chasing the 24-year-old. Current French leader Lyon was also courting Girma, offering San Diego more than $1 million.
What is a million dollar defender?
Strikers are evaluated by goals, creative midfielders by assists. Goalies can point to saves or shutouts.
Despite advances in metrics like Expected Goals, Expected Assists, and Expected Goals, it’s much harder to explain the work of world-class defenders in numbers.
So how do you evaluate a talent like Girma, who despite the San Diego Wave’s form, was one of the few bright spots at the memorable USA World Cup and 2024 World Cup?
Statistics such as tackles and interceptions (or saves in the case of goalkeepers) indicate that the team is under constant pressure more than individual quality. But girma is difficult to avoid.
She attempts a tackle and is very successful. She’s sneaky about stubbing her toes. Her overall passing accuracy is 90.3%, third best in our sample, but it’s her ability to break lines with precision that makes her coveted by top-tier clubs.
Given the captain’s mentality and amiable personality, it’s no surprise that Girma is option A for Champions League candidates who need reinforcements at the back.
meg’s corner
Girma’s record transfer fee shouldn’t shock anyone
We always thought the $1 million transfer fee barrier in women’s soccer would be broken sooner or later, so we shouldn’t be surprised that Naomi Girma has set the record. Girma followed in the footsteps of centre-backs and leaders before her, such as Carla Overbeck and Becky Sauerbrunn, but she also used this transfer to help shape the present and future of women’s football on the field. There is.
Amid all the transfer activity in soccer around the world, I think it’s worth taking a moment to pause and put the $1.1 million fee into context. FIFA has not released its 2024 report yet, but we can at least see an interim report from last summer’s period.
$6.4 billion was spent on transfer fees in men’s professional soccer. $6.8 million was spent on international transfers for the women’s game. (I say “only” but that’s more than double the amount spent in mid-2023. Progress!)
Girma’s transfer fee from Chelsea would be worth around 16% of the total amount alone. And with this new benchmark, it’s safe to assume that international transfers will continue to increase exponentially.
While NWSL teams have been major players in this market, from Bay FC moving to Kundananji to adding NWSL Championship MVP Barbra Banda to the Orlando Pride, multiple European teams have moved on for American players. It also benefits the NWSL to be prepared to sign cool players. Star.
🎧 Update on the ‘Full Time’ podcast: New Canada women’s coach Casey Stoney shares her vision for the team.
EM Dash, Jeff Burke/Imagn Images
famous person
favorite movement
This NWSL offseason marks a new era.
As of last Wednesday, teams can no longer trade players without their consent under a new CBA negotiated and approved by the league, players and clubs last year. Gone are the days of trade windows, rookie drafts, and restricted free agency. A trade could happen at any time before the roster freeze deadline in October.
Up-and-coming American talent Jadyn Shaw took full advantage of this rule, completing a trade from the Wave to the North Carolina Courage last week. However, even though she requested a transfer (specifically to North Carolina) over a year ago.
The rule changes have made the offseason so much more active, calling for a different version of Jeff Rueter’s “favorite move.”
From Shaw to Courage: Shaw clearly recognizes the role he can play alongside Sean Nahas. Along with Ashley Sanchez, the pair could be a deadly two-headed creative machine, each capable of hitting shots. She will be a welcome addition to a team that just lost former league MVP Carolyn to free agency.
Yazmeen Ryan to Houston Dash: Players with Ryan’s versatility and consistency are in short supply, and signing her to a new contract bodes well for the Dash’s long-awaited rebuild. I also like that Houston brought in Delaney Sheehan in free agency and Ryan’s acclimation has been quicker thanks to the two’s familiarity from their time together in Gotham. Honorable Mention: Angel City re-signed two-time World Cup champion Christen Press to a one-year contract extension. The 36-year-old was Angel City’s first addition to its 2021 starting roster. The team recently hired former NWSL head coach Mark Parsons as general manager. Neha wins another award
We’re not done celebrating Alyssa Nair, even though she retires from international soccer in November.
On Saturday, U.S. Soccer named the former women’s national team goalkeeper its 2024 Female Player of the Year. It’s hard to argue with the accolades from her highly successful year:
Olympic Gold Medal CONCACAF W Gold Cup First Champion (Save and Successfully Take a Penalty Kick) SheBelieves Cup Winner Best FIFA Female Goalkeeper Award
The 36-year-old received the latest recognition thanks to votes from national team coaches, players, U.S. Soccer Board of Governors members, the U.S. Soccer Players Council, NWSL head coaches, fans, select media members and administrators. Got it.
full time first look
Farewell message: Former Arsenal and Bay FC defender Jen Beatty is retiring, the 33-year-old announced today. Beatty reflects on her career as she enters a new phase in life, including a World Cup goal at the Parc des Princes, and how her cancer diagnosis in 2020 and her father’s legacy have shaped her life. He talked about the impact he had.
Messy Manchester: At the best of times, rivalries involve intense competition and some turmoil. Sunday’s WSL Manchester derby was no exception. United won 4-2, moving City into third place in the table. The two fierce rivals will meet again tomorrow in the Women’s League Cup. The only question is which team will City forward Chloe Kelly end up with, with reports suggesting she could head to United on loan?
Stay: Arsenal have opted for consistency amidst change, hiring Renee Sleggers as head coach through the 2025-26 season. Mr Slegers, 35, took up the interim role in October following the resignation of Jonas Eidewall. The Athletic’s Earl de Roche explains why Sleggers’ ruthlessness made her the perfect choice.
Canceled and canceled: Liverpool striker Olivia Smith has become a player that defenders feel they need to foul to stop her. As such, head coach Matt Beard has formally petitioned the Professional Game Match Officials Limited to reconsider the 20-year-old Canadian international and protect him from “serious injury.”
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(Top photo: Yukihito Taguchi/Imagn Images)
