Naomi Girma’s Chelsea journey so far is definitely not how the playbook was written. Since arriving at the Southwest London club in January 2025, the USWNT star has faced significant challenges along the way. From adapting to a different league atmosphere—while dealing with injuries and the pressure of living up to her $1 million price tag—to navigating off-pitch cultural adjustments, the past few months haven’t been easy. While all of this has made her a target for criticism, the good news is that Girma doesn’t “think of the weight of what’s happening.”
Well, that’s the least the 24-year-old can do. Ask any Chelsea fan; from the time when she was announced as the most expensive women’s player in history, truth be told but the former San Diego Wave star hasn’t lived up to the expectation. Then again, as concerning as it may sound, the best defender in the world in the eyes of Emma Hayes definitely knows how to turn things around.
“I think, as an athlete, you always want to be playing on the biggest stage and you want to be playing the biggest games,” Naomi Girma said on the occasion of becoming the face of the June 2025 issue of British Vogue. “I try to be in the moment and not think of the weight of what’s happening. I mean, there’s still nerves – there will be nerves forever – but there’s more excitement.”
(This is a developing story…)
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