Manchester United are close to agreeing a club-record sale of France forward Melvine Malard to Chelsea, with the transfer fee expected to be as high as approximately £850,000. Some sources suggest the deal will be closer to £750,000, but discussions are understood to be at the final stage and the move is expected to go through.
Contract situation and transfer rationale
Malard, 26, has one year remaining on her existing contract with Manchester United. United attempted to agree a new deal with the forward, but it became clear that Malard's desire was to seek a new challenge. United then did not wish to lose a high-value player on a free transfer next summer, prompting the decision to sell.
Sources have indicated that United will reinvest the transfer fee into the team, and manager Marc Skinner's side is likely to be busy in the transfer market, which remains open until 3 September.
Malard's connection with Chelsea manager
Malard is understood to have been a key target for Chelsea, who have tracked the former Lyon player for an extended period. She previously played under Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor at Lyon and is reportedly looking forward to reuniting with the Frenchwoman. The two have a friendship that has lasted for more than a decade, since Bompastor encouraged Malard to swap the island of Réunion for Lyon as a youngster.
For Chelsea, the move for Malard will strengthen their attacking options in a summer when they have also agreed a new contract for England forward Aggie Beever-Jones.
Malard's recent performances
Malard scored four Champions League goals last season to help Manchester United reach a maiden European quarter-final, as well as six times in the Women's Super League in 18 starts. She was also part of the France squad that reached the knockout stages of Euro 2025 last summer.
Other WSL transfer news
Elsewhere, Arsenal have signed 19-year-old Germany youth international forward Lisa Baum from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Born in Tanzania, Baum moved to Germany aged four and has been a regular in their age-group sides. “This league is so competitive and Arsenal is a big club, so I’m excited to challenge myself and compete with the best,” Baum told Arsenal’s club website. “I want to win trophies and develop my game, and Arsenal feels like the perfect match to achieve that.”
Everton have completed the signing of France under-23 forward Noémie Mouchon on a free transfer from recently relegated Leicester City. The 23-year-old told Everton’s website: “I am a fast player and I love to score goals, so I can’t wait. I just want to score a lot with Everton. That’s my only objective.” Everton’s technical director, Nick Cox, added: “We are really pleased to strengthen our attacking options with the signing of Noémie. Unsurprisingly for a player of her talent, she was wanted by other clubs but was keen to sign for Everton and help us to progress.”
