Naomi Girma

Defender • Age 26 • #4

Naomi Haile Girma is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Chelsea and the United States national team.

106 Appearances

2 Goals

9 Trophies

8 Awards

Fun Facts about Naomi

Quirky facts. Inspired by her game.

Both parents are from Ethiopia, Naomi has an older brother named Nathaniel. Growing up, her family spoke both Amharic and English.

Naomi practised gymnastics and played basketball in middle school.

She is currently working towards a master’s in Management, Science, and Engineering.

Beyond soccer, Naomi is passionate about mental health advocacy. She has been involved in initiatives aimed at providing athletes with tools to manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

Naomi was number 1 overall draft pick in 2022 NWSL draft.

U.S. coach Emma Hayes, the former coach at Chelsea, called Girma “the best defender I've ever seen" during the Olympics.

She won the gold medal with the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she played every minute of the tournament.

In January 2025, Naomi made headlines by transferring from San Diego Wave to Chelsea FC for a world-record fee of $1.1 million, marking the first time a women's football transfer fee has exceeded one million US dollars.

During her childhood, she played for her father's local club.

She loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, and journaling. She also recently tried painting. As Naomi says, it's important to do little things outside of soccer that help her keep balance.