Wondering what happened to Naomi Girma in her highly anticipated Chelsea debut? The USWNT star, now the most expensive player in women’s soccer history, faced a setback when she left the pitch due to injury.

From her record-breaking transfer to the latest injury update, we’ll cover everything about Naomi Girma’s Chelsea debut and its impact on her future.

What happened to Naomi Girma?

Naomi Girma, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) star, suffered an injury during her debut in the Women’s Super League (WSL) match against Brighton. She started the game but had to be substituted in the 59th minute due to calf tightness. Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor stated that the injury did not appear serious but would require further assessment. Despite her early exit, Chelsea secured a 2-2 draw, maintaining their lead at the top of the WSL standings.

Girma’s debut was highly anticipated following her historic transfer from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club San Diego Wave. According to AP News, Chelsea paid $1.12 million (£900,000) for her in January, making her the most expensive female player in history. Her transfer shattered the previous record of $788,000 set when Bay FC signed Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF. Chelsea, aiming for their sixth consecutive WSL title, brought Girma in to strengthen their defense.

Before moving to Chelsea, Girma had already established herself as one of the top defenders in women’s soccer. San Diego Wave selected her as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. She quickly proved her value, winning the NWSL Defender of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023. In her debut season, she was also named Rookie of the Year. Her leadership and consistency also earned her a key role in the USWNT’s gold-winning squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As Girma adapts to the intensity of English football, Chelsea remains hopeful that her injury is minor.