Photo: jamesboyes / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of French international forward Melvine Malard from Manchester United on a four-year contract. The 26-year-old adds attacking reinforcement ahead of the new Women's Super League campaign.
"I'm so happy because I have a plan for my life and my career, and Chelsea were a part of that plan," Malard said. "It is a great club and a big club so I am very excited to get started."
"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," she added.
The transfer reunites Malard with Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor, who first identified the attacker at a regional tournament in Clairefontaine when Malard was 14. Bompastor was then recruiting for Lyon's academy and persuaded Malard to move from her birthplace, the French island of Reunion near Madagascar, to mainland France.
Malard signed her first professional contract at Lyon in July 2017, shortly after her 17th birthday, and made her senior debut later that year. She went on to win four Champions League medals with the club, scoring 17 goals in 46 European appearances in total. She started the 2021/22 Champions League final as Lyon defeated Barcelona in Turin.
Malard joined Manchester United in 2023 on an initial loan, which was made permanent after a successful debut season that included an FA Cup title. Across three WSL seasons she registered 21 goal contributions in 57 appearances.
At international level, Malard has earned 41 caps and scored 14 goals for France. She featured at both Euro 2022 and Euro 2025.