Chelsea are closing in on the signing of San Diego Wave centre-back Naomi Girma for a world-record fee exceeding $1 million.

In soccer, defenders struggle to achieve the kinds of milestones that put them in the conversation as their sport’s best player. Their teammates are almost all better positioned for statistical records: goals scored by forwards,

San Diego Wave and American international center-back Naomi Girma agreed to move to English side Chelsea for a world-record women's transfer fee of $1.1 million, The Athletic's Meg Linehan reported Tuesday.

English champion Chelsea is finalizing a transfer for United States women’s national team defender Naomi Girma from the NWSL’s San Diego Wave FC, sources confirmed to The Equalizer. Chelsea is expected to pay a fee of over $1 million for Girma,

Chelsea Women have reportedly 'agreed to terms' to sign USWNT defender Namoi Girma from San Diego Wave. According to the Athletic, the London club will splash $1.1 million on the 24-year-old, making

Chelsea Women have reportedly agreed a deal to sign San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma for a world record soccer transfer fee of $1.1 million (€1.06m). Girma, 24, is widely considered to be one of the best defenders in women’s football and Chelsea are on the verge of confirming her arrival for a new transfer record.