Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has said that United States women’s national team defender Naomi Girma will make her debut for the club vs. Brighton & Hove Albion in Women’s Super League play on Sunday.
The squad inclusion is Girma’s first since joining the club in a record $1.1 million deal last month from the San Diego Wave. Girma became the first player to break the $1m mark in the women’s game.
The fee surpasses the previous record deal of $767,600, paid by NWSL side Bay FC to sign Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF in February 2024.
Last month, she was presented to the crowd at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea’s Women’s Super League (WSL) victory over Arsenal but has not yet played. Girma missed February’s SheBelieves Cup for the United States due to a calf injury.
Girma, Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel trained over the international break. Kerr and Fishel are recovering from ACL injuries.
“Naomi, we practiced really well during these two weeks,” the Chelsea head coach said. “We brought some [academy] boys [into training] and we had the best players from the academy, the girls, and I think we had a nice environment for them to practice in. Naomi should be in the squad for the game on Sunday.”
Chelsea are facing a quick turnaround, with three players coming from the SheBelieves Cup just returning back with the club on Friday, United States forward Catarina Macario, Colombia striker Mayra RamÃrez and Japan forward Maika Hamano.
“We still have three players who are landing today, coming from U.S., San Diego,” Bompastor said. “The big day for assessment is today for us so I think I will have a clear idea of my squad for the game on Sunday maybe later today. [It’s a] quick turnaround, only one day to prepare, but we have the experience.”
Bompastor said she expects a tough game because “everyone wants to beat Chelsea” as the club look to maintain their unbeaten record against fifth-place Brighton.
“They have had two weeks to prepare for the game, I think if you reflect on the game we played against them it was a difficult game for us,” Bompastor said of the 4-2 win in the reverse fixture back in December.
“They have this philosophy to play and put trouble to the opposition. They have a lot of quality in the squad with some individuals and collectively so we are expecting a tough game.”
“Sam, Naomi and Mia were all practicing this last two weeks and they did well,” Bompastor said. “Sam is progressing really well and she’s returning back to her level, but again it’s difficult to put a timeframe on her return but I’m really happy with what I saw over the last two weeks.”
