One of the U.S. women’s national team’s rising talents has secured a move to WSL giants Chelsea.
Naomi Girma has joined Chelsea in a permanent deal from NWSL club San Diego Wave, both clubs announced Sunday. The 24-year-old Girma signed a four-and-a-half year contract which will run until June 2029.
“I’m so happy and really excited to be here. It doesn’t feel real,” Girma said in a club interview Sunday. “There are a lot of things about Chelsea that made me want to come here – the culture, the winning mentality, staff and players. It’s a top environment to learn and grow in.
“Right now, that’s what I’m looking to do,” she added. “It was an easy choice for me.”
Girma has enjoyed a rapid rise in her club and international career. After winning a National Championship at Stanford University in 2019, she was selected No. 1 overall by San Diego in 2022.
Girma won NWSL Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year in successive seasons and helped San Diego with the NWSL Shield in 2023.
On the international level, Girma previously won the U.S. Soccer Young Female of the Year and Female of the Year awards. She helped the USWNT win the Gold Medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, serving as the only field player to play every minute of the competition.
She was named to The Best FIFA Women’s 11 in 2024 and the IFFHS Women’s World Team during the same year.
Girma will now join USWNT teammate Catarina Macario at Chelsea. Chelsea sits nine points clear at the top of the WSL table following Sunday’s 1-0 London Derby win over Arsenal.