U.S. women's national team defender Naomi Girma became the most expensive transfer in women's soccer after penning a deal with English club Chelsea.

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.

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.

Chelsea makes top defender for USA's gold medal-winning team at 2024 Paris Olympics the first million-dollar player in women's soccer history.

The deal gives Chelsea two of the very best center backs on the planet with Girma and Millie Bright, sending the USWNT defender to the former home of her national team coach Emma Hayes.

The transfer agreement is for $1.1 million, according to The Athletic, the highest fee ever commanded for a transfer in the women's game. Girma, 24, was under contract with the Wave until 2026. She drew interest from French club Lyon and Arsenal in the Women's Super League.

The Women's Super League returned this weekend as Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table with a nail-biting victory over Arsenal.

Olympic soccer star Naomi Girma is taking her skills across the pond after signing a record-breaking deal to play four years at the Chelsea Women football club in England, becoming the woman to cross the million-dollar threshold in the sport.

Olympic soccer star Naomi Girma is taking her skills across the pond after signing a record-breaking deal to play four years at the Chelsea Women football club in England, becoming the woman to cross the million-dollar threshold in the sport.

Chelsea announced the signing of Girma. Reports say the English champions have spent $1.1 million on the transfer.

In Anita Asante's latest BBC Sport column, she looks at why Chelsea's new arrival Naomi Girma was worth a world record transfer fee.