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Siddhant LazarMar 12, 2025NWSLWSLN. GirmaChelsea FC WomenSan Diego Wave FC

'I don’t love it for NWSL' - USMNT legend and ex-San Diego Wave coach Landon Donovan expresses concerns over Naomi Girma's record transfer to Chelsea

The former San Diego Wave FC coach voiced disappointment over Girma's departure, says NWSL faces challenges

  • Naomi Girma signed for Chelsea in a record-breaking $1.1 million move
  • Donovan questions the impact of high-profile departures on NWSL's stability
  • Says league faces growing competition from European clubs for top talent
  • Getty Images

    WHAT HAPPENED

    Landon Donovan, USMNT legend and former coach of San Diego Wave FC, expressed his disappointment over Naomi Girma's recent record-breaking transfer to Chelsea. In January, Girma completed a $1.1 million move from San Diego to Chelsea, marking the first million-dollar transfer in women's soccer history.

    Donovan said that, while he understands why Girma left the NWSL for Europe, he is disappointed that the defender didn’t stay.

    “I have a lot of thoughts on all of this. Candidly for Naomi, I know she wanted to go but I don’t love it for NWSL as probably the best center-back in the world is leaving and wants to leave," he said on his podcast, Unfiltered with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. "I understand all the reasons but in my opinion, having watched a lot of the games now and having coached in it, the NWSL, top to bottom, is the best league in the world.

    “Some of the top clubs in the world play in Europe but their leagues are not great. Chelsea can walk through four or five of those teams without breaking a sweat. So I get disappointed when a player of Naomi’s quality doesn’t want to stay here, but I get it.”

  • WHAT DONOVAN SAID

    Donovan said his chief concern over the move is that it reveals an apparant instability in the league.

    “I think the No. 1 talking point, for me, for NWSL in the offseason is there’s so much change and the league’s still feels a little instable in that way," he said. "And what I mean is that very few players get signed to three, four or five-year deals. So most players, from year to year, have the freedom to move - and historically in the league players have crazy power. If they’re not happy, they can leave.

    “And it reminds me a little bit of MLS back in the early days - like if someone wasn’t happy with someone or whatever, you just call your agent and get me out of here. And that doesn’t happen in mature leagues around the world. So I do want to see that change.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    The NWSL has undergone significant changes recently, with expansion teams, ownership changes, and increasing investment. However, these developments have also brought other changes, including coaching turnover and player movement.

  • Getty Images

    WHAT’S NEXT?

    The 2025 NWSL season kicks off on March 14. Girma’s former side San Diego will play their first game of the season against Angel City FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 15.

    Girma's next game for Chelsea is scheduled for March 15 when they face Manchester City, though Girma was recently injured and may not feature.