Chelsea break $1m barrier to sign USA defender Girma in world-record deal

The fees surpasses the record $860,000 paid by the American club Bay FC for Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF last year. 

RECORD-BREAKER: Naomi Girma playing for USA against the Netherlands in Decemeber. Picture: Pau Barrena/Getty Images

The United States defender Naomi Girma is set to have a medical at Chelsea this week after agreeing personal terms to join from San Diego Wave for a world-record fee. Chelsea will pay $1.1m (€1.05m), the first women’s football transfer fee to exceed a million US dollars.

The Guardian understands Chelsea have agreed a long-term contract with Girma and she is set to travel to London for a medical with Sonia Bompastor’s side, who are seven points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League at the halfway stage.