Melvine Malard signs for Chelsea!

Chelsea is delighted to confirm the signing of Melvine Malard from Manchester United on a four-year contract.

The French international is regarded as one of the most dangerous forwards in the game and will strengthen the Chelsea attack ahead of the new campaign.

'I'm so happy because I have a plan for my life and my career, and Chelsea were a part of that plan,’ said Malard, who recently turned 26.

‘It is a great club and a big club so I am very excited to get started. I have played against Chelsea a lot of times and have always lost so I know the team have good players. And I have known Sonia since I was 14 years old, so it is great to work with her again.

‘My objective is to become better every single day and to win trophies. I know Chelsea always have that as an objective and I have that ambition too.

‘I am also really looking forward to playing at Stamford Bridge on a regular basis. The atmosphere is incredible and the pitch is close to the fans, so you really feel their energy. I love that.'

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Melvine Malard is Chelsea 🎥✍️

Melvine Malard has signed a four-year contract with Chelsea...

The move reunites Malard with Sonia Bompastor, who first spotted the attacker’s talents when she was competing at a regional tournament in Clairefontaine, the home of French football, aged 14.

Bompastor was working on the recruitment of young players for Lyon at the time and she encouraged Malard, who was born and raised in the small French island of Reunion near Madagascar, to move to mainland France and sign for Lyon’s academy.

Malard agreed and duly impressed as a youngster at Lyon. She signed her first professional contract in July 2017 – shortly after her 17th birthday – and then made her senior debut a few months later.

Melvine Malard is a Blue!

The forward had already featured in Lyon’s victorious Champions League campaigns the two seasons previously when, following a successful loan spell at FC Fleury 91, Malard returned to come off the bench in the 2020 Champions League final. Lyon beat Wolfsburg 3-1 to lift the trophy for a third consecutive year and among her team-mates that day were Lucy Bronze, Kadeisha Buchanan and Ellie Carpenter.

The following campaign, 2020/21, Malard established herself in the Lyon team and made her senior France debut in a win against Serbia. She scored 17 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions in 2021/22, Bompastor’s first as head coach, as Lyon won the domestic title and the Champions League. Malard started the final as Barcelona were beaten in Turin.

Another league title followed before Malard signed for Manchester United in 2023, initially on loan. The move was made permanent after she enjoyed a successful first season in English football, including an FA Cup triumph.

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Melvine Malard's first interview

Discover more about the French striker in our exclusive interview...

Across her three seasons in the WSL to date, Malard has accrued 21 goal contributions in 57 appearances. She also has considerable Champions League experience: along with her four winner’s medals in the competition, she has scored 17 goals in 46 games.

At international level, Malard is a regular for France and now has 41 caps and 14 goals to her name. She featured at both Euro 2022 and Euro 2025.

We are thrilled to welcome Melvine to Stamford Bridge, and we can’t wait to see her in blue!

Who the duck is this?

16 minutes ago, Munkunku said:

Who the duck is this?

Man Utd striker

Correction: Chelsea striker.