Women’s Super League energy Chelsea has struck a deal to amass San Diego Wave and U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce defender Naomi Girma, an individual accustomed to the switch deal advised The Associated Press.
The particular person spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk publicly in regards to the transfer, which had not been finalized.
The switch deal quantities to $1.1 million, in accordance with The Athletic, the very best quantity ever requested for a switch in ladies’s soccer.
Girma, 24, was below contract with Onda till 2026. He attracted curiosity from French membership Lyon and Arsenal within the Women’s Super League.
Girma made his nationwide workforce debut in 2022. He performed 44 video games for the United States and performed on the workforce that gained the gold medal on the Paris Olympics.
US coach Emma Hayes, former Chelsea coach, known as Girma “the best defender I’ve ever seen” throughout the Olympics.
“I’ve by no means seen such a great participant as a central defender. She has the whole lot: steadiness, composure, defends, anticipates, drives,” stated Hayes, who labored with defenders resembling Millie Bright and Magdalena Eriksson whereas managing Chelsea for 12 years . “I imply, wow. Amazing.”
He was named Girma 2023 US Soccer Player of the Year. He additionally gained the federation’s Young Player of the Year award in 2020.
Girma captained the Stanford workforce that gained the nationwide championship in 2019. She was taken No. 1 within the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League draft by the Wave. She was named the league’s Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year in her first season.
Associated Press reporting.
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