January 23 – In 1979, Trevor Francis became the first English footballer to command a £1 million transfer fee when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest. 46 years later Naomi Girma is set to make the first million-dollar transfer in women’s soccer history.
Earlier this week, the San Diego Wave from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), and perennial Women’s Super League (WSL) champions, Chelsea, agreed to terms for the services of the USWNT defender.
Girma, 24 was born in San Jose, California, and played college soccer nearby at Stanford University, where she captained the team winning the 2019 NCAA College Cup.
Drafted the number one pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Wave, Girma immediately made her mark winning both the NWSL Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards in 2022, before winning Defender of the Year again the following season.
On the international stage, former USWNT coach, Vlatko Andonovski, gave Girma her first taste of top-class soccer in a friendly against Uzbekistan. In just three short years, she has become one of the world’s best defenders winning a Gold medal at the Paris Olympics last summer.
Former Chelsea, and current USWNT coach Emma Hayes said after their semi-final victory over Germany: “She’s the best defender I’ve ever seen. Ever. She’s got everything: poise, composure, she defends, she anticipates, she leads.”
With the million-mark broken, it is obvious women’s soccer will continue its rapid growth, and the transfer market will surely become as competitive as the men’s game.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1737637906labto1737637906ofdlr1737637906owedi1737637906sni@o1737637906fni1737637906