Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor previously said after the win over Arsenal in January – during which Girma was unveiled on the Stamford Bridge pitch – that she had a slight injury.

Girma was part of Hayes’ USA team that won women’s football gold at Paris 2024 and the former Chelsea manager previously described the centre-back as the best defender in the world.

And she said her former club’s fans would fall in love with Girma once they had the chance to see her play.

“As a person and as a leader, she is someone who is exceptionally humble,” Hayes said. “As someone whose natural ability to read the game and make decisions under pressure, she is beyond her years.

“She is a great team-mate, great communicator, she is growing in her development as a leader. All of these exceptional qualities have got her a move, she will have an unbelievable career at Chelsea and the fans will love her.”

Also absent from the USA squad is Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who was called up by Hayes for their friendlies against England and the Netherlands in the last international break.

Tullis-Joyce is now number one at United and has played in all of their WSL games this season, but Hayes has named just two goalkeepers for the upcoming three matches and said the 28-year-old needs to work on her decision making in order to win her place back.

“Phallon has had a very good year, she defends her goal well and is progressing – but she has to continue improving her decision making under pressure,” Hayes said

“I would say for the goalkeepers not in here, they all know what they have to work on.”