Naomi Girma, Olympic soccer sensation, signed a record-breaking contract in January to play for the Chelsea Women’s Football Club in England for four years. Her move from the San Diego Wave of the National Women’s Soccer League to Chelsea made her the first million-dollar player in women’s soccer.

During a Chelsea match versus Arsenal Women, Girma was taken onto the field to declare the completion of the $1.1 million transfer agreement. She told Esquire, “When I found out the transfer was going through, it felt unreal that it all came together.”

In the team’s news release at the time, Girma said that she was thrilled to play for the team and that it was an “easy choice.” “There are a lot of things about Chelsea that made me want to come here — the culture, the winning mentality, staff and players,” Girma said. “It’s a top environment to learn and grow in.”

Emma Hayes, the new coach of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, used to be at Chelsea. Hayes spent the summer working closely with Girma as the women’s team earned its first gold medal at the Olympics in twelve years.

Considered the top defender in the United States, 24-year-old California native Girma played in the National Women’s Soccer League for two years after being the first overall draft pick by the San Diego Wave. The Wave’s first season as an NWSL expansion team in 2022 was outstanding, according to NBC. Girma was on the team as it took home the Shield trophy in 2023, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.

In the Wave’s news release regarding the transfer agreement, general manager Camille Ashton commended Girma for her dedication to the squad over the previous two years. Ashton stated that the squad would keep building a team capable of contending for titles despite Girma’s absence.

“While it’s difficult to part ways with a player of Naomi’s caliber, we are incredibly proud of all she has achieved during her time with us,” Ashton said. “She has set a high standard here, and we wish her nothing but success as she continues her career overseas.”

In her statement, Girma spoke passionately about her time on the Wave and said she will always have a special place in her heart for the team. “I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow here and for the incredible relationships I’ve built with my teammates, the sporting staff, and our amazing fans,” Girma said. “I’m especially grateful to ownership and Cami for supporting my dream of playing in Europe.”

Girma first began to play soccer as a child, according to Esquire. She was raised in San Jose, California, where her father, an Ethiopian immigrant, “founded this organization for Ethiopian families.”

She explained, “The kids would get together and play soccer, and the dads would coach us. A lot of the kids were dragged in by their parents, but I just always loved it.” Even though Girma was born in America, her early gaming experiences helped to define her, and she feels a deep connection to her Ethiopian identity and community. Girma pleaded with her parents to sign her up for competitive clubs in the Bay Area since she was so talented, and she thrived there. She went on to play for Stanford and lead the team to an NCAA championship in 2019.

Girma is attending Stanford to further her studies while maintaining a successful career. She is pursuing a master’s degree in management science and engineering. “I’m doing it part-time remote, so when a quarter lines up with when I can do it, I’ll take one or two classes—so it’s been a slow journey,” she said to Esquire earlier this month, laughing. “Like during this time, there’s a lot going on. I’m not going to take a class. But when I’m settled, it’s really nice to train in the morning, and then when I leave, I have something else that I can put my mind and attention toward. I like having that balance.”

Girma is currently focusing on making an impact with Chelsea in its effort to retain the English title. She expressed her excitement at the possibility to play in Europe’s Champions League, where top European clubs compete for the title of best club on the continent, as well as her desire to win trophies with the USWNT.