As Girma’s profile rose in the U.S. and the international game, the Wave’s technical staff realized they would struggle to afford her.

While Chelsea and the Wave have not released a figure, previous reports pegged the transfer fee at $1.1 million. That money could cover one-third of the Wave’s 2025 payroll. The National Women’s Soccer League caps payrolls at $3.3 million per team per year; top players make between $200,000 and $500,000 per season.

After three seasons with San Diego Wave FC, Naomi Girma has made history in the NWSL as the defender has signed with Chelsea FC in the Women’s Super League (WSL) for

Women’s soccer has its first million-dollar player after United States defender Naomi Girma moved from San Diego Wave to Chelsea.

US Women’s National Team (USWNT) defender Naomi Girma has become women’s soccer’s first ever million-dollar player, joining English champion Chelsea from San Diego Wave FC.

Naomi Girma (center) sends ball to teammate. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego) Chelsea has stuck a deal to acquire San Diego Wave and U.S. defender Naomi Girma, a person with knowledge of the transfer agreement told the Associated Press.

The January transfer window may be short, but it never fails to surprise us. Each year, unexpected moves across the globe send shockwaves through the soccer world, and this season’s winter market is no exception.

USWNT defender Naomi Girma has completed her move from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea and become the most expensive transfer in women’s soccer history.

In a historic deal to join Chelsea F.C., Naomi Girma ‘22 has made history as the first million-dollar women's soccer player.

San Diego Wave and American international center-back Naomi Girma agreed to move to English side Chelsea for a world-record women's transfer fee of $1.1 million, The Athletic's Meg Linehan reported Tuesday.

Naomi Girma can command a salary that is exponentially larger than what she was making in the National Women’s Soccer League

Keira Walsh has returned to WSL after winning back-to-back Champions Leagues and Spanish league titles with Barcelona; Chelseas £400,000 signing of Euros-winning England midfielder follows their captu