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USA defender Naomi Girma stated becoming a member of Chelsea was an “straightforward alternative” after finishing her transfer for a girls’s world file charge.

The 24-year-old has signed a contract till summer time 2029 after the Girls’s Tremendous League (WSL) leaders this week agreed to pay San Diego Wave about £900,000.

“I am so comfortable and actually excited to be right here. It would not really feel actual,” earlier than being launched to followers at Stamford Bridge for Sunday’s WSL match towards Arsenal.

“There are lots of issues about Chelsea that made me wish to come right here – the tradition, the profitable mentality, employees and gamers.

“It is a prime setting to study and develop in. Proper now, that is what I am trying to do.”

The charge exceeds the earlier file of £685,000, when Bay FC signed Racheal Kundananji final February.

Chelsea set the British switch file in for £384,000 in January 2024.

Girma instructed BBC Sport: “I am actually excited to play alongside (England defender) Millie (Vivid).

“There are such a lot of gamers on this workforce which have a lot expertise, lots of younger gamers who’ve been superb as nicely, so [I am] simply actually excited to be in with the group.”

Paul Inexperienced, Chelsea head of girls’s soccer, stated: “Naomi is a world-class defender who’s now coming into the prime years of her profession.

“Her composure on the ball, capability to learn the sport, coupled together with her tempo and athleticism, will add high quality to an already very proficient squad.

“She is undoubtedly prepared for this subsequent step in her profession and we’re delighted it is going to be with Chelsea.”

In 2023 Girma helped San Diego win the Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League (NWSL) Defend and was named US Soccer’s feminine participant of the 12 months.

She was a part of the USA facet that received gold on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Girma is Chelsea’s first signing of the January switch window after they fought off competitors from Lyon.

Chelsea made her a precedence goal after shedding defender Kadeisha Buchanan to a season-ending knee damage.

‘An announcement of intent’ – evaluation

Emma Sanders, BBC Sport girls’s senior soccer reporter

Girma’s skills are not any secret and she or he is extensively considered probably the greatest feminine footballers.

Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, now the USA supervisor, stated final 12 months Girma was the world’s greatest centre-back and she’s going to little doubt be happy to see her previous membership scoop her up.

Having loved a style of silverware with the USA and San Diego, Girma arrives in England with ambitions to win extra trophies, notably within the Champions League, and is believed to have had discussions with Hayes about what to anticipate from Chelsea.

Lyon provided greater wages and have been ready to match the switch charge that Chelsea ultimately had accepted by San Diego, however Girma’s desire was all the time to hitch the Blues.

It’s supervisor Sonia Bompastor’s most important signing so far and the membership consider Girma will take them one step nearer to a primary European title.

The long-term deal agreed can be a press release of intent from Chelsea – that they’re able to entice the world’s greatest skills and, hopefully, preserve them.