Why Chelsea disbursed a female world record rate to sign Naomi Girma, and how the American has the Blues icon Emma Hayes Rheaming Over Hel

The party was deeply in extra time when Alessia Russo, at his feet, towards the goal of the opposition. With just a defender to win, the result seemed inevitable: moving on to her and her team would inevitably be crowned champions.

However, that defender was Naomi Girma, the new firm of $ 1.1 million (£ 890,000) of Chelsea (£ 890,000). Keeping its balance, the center of the back was maintained as Russo advanced in the penalty area. Not immutured by the passage of Russo, Girma retained his balance and stood out his left leg when the English striker took his shot.

The ball flew through Girma’s leg and went out for a serve, and 20 minutes later it was celebrating the coronation moment of Stanford University, surpassing the Russo North Carolina tar in penalties, downtown Stanford that reduced the third To collect the 2019 College Cup.

After looking at the posts where his family and friends were sitting, many of the Ethiopian community of South Bay, Girma said: “That was, with much, the best moment of my life.”

They were moments that change the game like these that the US chief coach. Emma Hayes acknowledged in Girma, causing the former Chelsea chief to praise her as the ‘best defender I have seen’ after Girma played a fundamental role In obtaining the states a fifth Olympic gold in Paris last summer in the first Hayes tournament in charge.

Girma was the only field player to appear at every minute of the campaign and completed more passes, more haules and more authorizations than any other person in the tournament, while their 95 percent pass accuracy was also the highest for any player.

Chelsea has turned Naomi Girma into the most expensive player in the history of women’s football

The blues disbursed £ 890,000 to sign the 24 -year defender of San Diego Wave

The former Chelsea Chief, Emma Hayes, who manages girma for the United States, called her the “best defender I have seen”

Hayes added: ‘Never. It has everything: balance, composure, defends, anticipates, leads.

There is a certain symmetry that Girma went to the west of London, where you have raised 14 main trophies during its 12 -year mandate.

The 24 -year -old has joined the Blues of San Diego Wave for a world record rate of $ 1.1 million (£ 890,000), easily exceeding the previous record of around $ 860,000 (£ 691,000) paid by Bay FC per Racheal Kundananji. And this rate is almost double the previous record of an English club established by Chelsea when they signed Colombia Mayra Ramírez striker for € 450,000 (£ 384,000 at that time) in January last year.

Under the leadership of Sonia Bompastor, Girma joins his former teammate of Stanford and his US teammate. UU. Catarina Macario and reinforce the grip almost without Chelsea problems in the WSL trophy in the middle of the season. They have seven clear points at the top after having defeated Arsenal on Sunday.

Taking into account that the last five titles have never been won by more than two points, it is not surprising that the title is already yours, despite the fact that Bompastor is not yet saying it. Girma, who was presented before the game, would have been licking his lips on the side line when he saw Russo flying towards the goal of Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton. The rivalry can resume.

Girma’s approach ability at that time against Now Gunners’ No 23 is not a unique feature, but a constant characteristic of his game. Its positioning is an expert and, beyond that, you can also deliver crispy and cut diagonal balls, not different from the best of Alex Greenwood. Girma had the greatest pass precision in the NWSL 2024 players season to try more than 600 passes and was appointed NWSL defender in 2022 and 2023.

And his new manager was full of praise after Arsenal’s victory, saying: ‘She is a really talented player. She will contribute a lot of quality to the team, even if the team already has talent. Making Naomi join the team will bring even more options for me, to play a three defense system, back to three, back.

Pressing about his technical attributes, Bompastor said: ‘Naomi is a defender who feels really comfortable with the ball. He is able to have a great impact because he feels comfortable passing the ball, kicking short, kicking a lot. You can also dribble with the ball.

Girma has already accumulated 44 caps for the United States since its debut in 2022

She arrived through the soccer program at Stanford University before joining San Diego

Girma has been praised for his leadership, calm, football intelligence, rhythm and step

‘Also out of position, she is also a very intelligent player. She has a lot of speed and, therefore, can play very high in the field and recover the ball with the space behind.

However, for many on this side of the Atlantic, Girma is a new phenomenon.

Its history is a family, community and undeniable talent. Born in San José, California, to Ethiopian immigrant parents, Naomi’s father, Girma Aweke, fled from East Africa to the United States in the 1980s due to the outbreak of the civil war, while his mother, Seble Demissie, He also emigrated from Ethiopia, but for education purposes.

His father played a fundamental role in the configuration of his love for football. He formed a basic club, Malle Soccer, in San José to provide training for the local Ethiopian community, and this is where Naomi first fell into the sport. She described how her father did “such a fun and safe space for me to fall in love with football”

From there, things took off by Girma. He joined the most competitive Central Valley Crossfire, where he obtained his first call to the United States team under 14 years.

Then Pioneer High School came, followed by Stanford University, before getting its first professional contract with the newly trained wave of San Diego, where it was selected as the general selection number 1 in the Draft NWSL 2022.

“I don’t think I met anyone as good as her and she doesn’t realize that they are as good as what she is,” said Man Manchester United, Casey Stoney, chief coach of Girma in San Diego Wave.

She is so humble. Humility is a great thing for her, but I am trying to realize how good it is at the same time, so she plays with that confidence every week. “

Girma has had to overcome difficulties, such as the death of her best friend Katie Meyer in 2022

Chelsea Chief, Sonia Bompastor, became lyric about her new signature, although she is not so known to an English audience

His founded nature has led her to all areas of her life. Rocked for the death of his teammate of Stanford and best friend, Katie Meyer, in 2022, Girma has actively campaigned for better mental health provisions for the football community. His collaboration with the common objective of the beneficial organization provides tangible support for people in need.

Less than a month after Meyer’s death, Girma made his debut for the United States. Since then, it has been established as a first -option center in the Emma Hayes team, winning 44 appearances for its national team. Given adversity, Girma stood up for the challenge.

“She also seems like a lovely person, so it will be a good addition to the team”, her new teammate in Chelsea, Aggie Beever-Jones summed up Girma after Sunday’s game.

It seems that everyone is excited for their arrival, and the WSL is fortunate to call it one of theirs.