Chelsea Signs Melvin Malard from Manchester United for £850K

Chelsea FC has officially signed 26-year-old striker Melvin Malard from Manchester United for a fee of £850,000. Malard reunites with Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, with whom he previously collaborated at Lyon.

Bompastor scouted Malard during his time in Lyon's academy and later included him in senior matches, contributing to a Champions League final victory in 2020 against Wolfsburg. Malard expressed excitement about joining Chelsea, stating it is a great club and he is eager to contribute to the team's success.

He joined Manchester United in 2023 on an initial loan and helped the team win their first major trophy, the Women's FA Cup. Malard becomes Chelsea's third signing of the summer and is seen as a versatile addition to Bompastor's attacking options, especially following the departure of Australia captain Sam Kerr to Gotham FC.

The transfer was agreed upon as Manchester United preferred to sell rather than risk losing Malard on a free transfer next summer.