24-year-old Naomi Girma has landed a historic deal!
The young soccer star was drafted to the NSWL league back in 2022 as a first-round draft pick selected by the San Diego Wave, notes NBC News. Widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the U.S., she has earned 44 national team appearances and a Paris Olympics gold — now, she’s taking her talents to Chelsea in England.
“San Diego Wave has been such an important part of my journey,” said Girma, according to Forbes. “I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow here and for the incredible relationships I’ve built with my teammates, the sporting staff, and our amazing fans. I’m especially grateful to ownership and Cami for supporting my dream of playing in Europe. San Diego will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.”
Reflecting on her transition, Girma commented, “I mean, this atmosphere is incredible,” said Girma. “I think Chelsea just has that winning culture, that mentality, and I think I just really wanted to be a part of that group with the players and the staff and what the club stands for. I think it’s amazing.”
Girma has secured a $1.1 million transfer deal to play with her new club for the next four years. The million-dollar deal is a first in the sport and, to Head Coach Sonia Bompastor, well deserved.
“I think Naomi is a defender who is really comfortable with the ball in possession. She will bring a lot of confidence to the team,” Bompastor explained, according to Forbes. “She’s able to have a big impact because she’s comfortable onpassing the ball, kicking short, kicking long. She’s also able to drive with the ball and create [an] advantage numerically.She will bring a lot of quality to the squad, even if the squad is already talented.”
