Chelsea in advanced talks to sign Manchester United’s Melvine Malard

Chelsea are in advanced talks over a transfer for Manchester United forward Melvine Malard.

Talks are taking place between the clubs over a deal which would be worth in the region of £850,000 plus add-ons, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.

It would represent a club-record sale for United and the highest fee a women’s club has received for a player with a year left on their contract.

The 26-year-old is entering the final year of her contract and it had become increasingly clear that an agreement over renewed terms would not be reached.

United were keen to not lose a high-value player on a free transfer having done so in previous windows when Alessia Russo and Mary Earps both left the club.

Malard, who joined United initially on loan in 2023, has provided 23 goals in 95 appearances across three seasons.

The France international previously played under Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor during the pair’s time at Lyon and the pair have known each other for at least a decade.

The forward would represent the third summer signing for Chelsea, who have already added midfielder Manaka Matsukubo and defender Katie McCabe, and would bolster Chelsea’s depleted forward line following the exits of forwards Sam Kerr and Cat Macario.

The exit of Malard for United would represent a significant loss in the forward line. Last season, she provided 10 goals and 10 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, including four goals and five assists in United’s historic Champions League campaign.

United intend to invest Malard’s fee into bolstering their own ranks this summer. United have made just one signing so far this summer in defender Andrea Medina from Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.

United were focused in the early weeks of the transfer window to move out players from the squad, with three to four incomings likely later in the window. Defence and the forward line are areas in need of reinforcement. A goalkeeper is expected to join shortly.

Malard scored four Champions League goals last term to help United reach a maiden European quarter-final, as well as six times in the Women’s Super League (WSL) in 18 starts. She was also part of the France squad that reached the knockout stages of Euro 2025 last summer.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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