Aston Villa Women have completed the permanent signing of French midfielder Oriane Jean-Francois from Chelsea for a fee of £450,000, a club-record sale for the Blues. The 24-year-old joins Villa after a spell at Chelsea in which she struggled for regular playing time, having made 28 appearances since joining from Paris St-Germain in 2024.

Jean-Francois: A France International

Jean-Francois has established herself at the international level, making 21 appearances for France, including starting roles at major tournaments such as the European Championships. Her performances for Les Bleues have drawn attention from top clubs, and she is expected to bring immediate quality and experience to Aston Villa’s midfield.

Villa’s director of women’s football, Marisa Ewers, commented on the signing:

“This is another signing that strongly supports our ambitions as a club. Oriane impressed throughout the European Championships as a starter for France, consistently performing at the highest level. We believe she will add immediate quality and further raise standards within the group.”

Aston Villa’s Growing Ambitions

The move comes as Villa continue to strengthen under manager Natalia Arroyo, currently sixth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with four wins and four draws from 12 matches. Villa have already been active in the transfer market this season, securing Arsenal’s Jenna Nighswonger on loan with the option to make the move permanent.

Ewers added on Nighswonger:

“We have been tracking her for some time and are delighted that she has bought into our exciting project. This signing forms part of our growing ambitions as we continue to build an exciting and competitive squad, and we believe Jenna will add real quality to the group.”

Jean-Francois is expected to be a key figure in Villa’s midfield, providing creativity, passing range, and experience at the top level of European football. Her arrival reflects Villa’s intent to compete consistently in the upper half of the WSL and push for domestic and continental success in the coming seasons.

Player Profile: Oriane Jean-Francois

• Age: 24
• Position: Midfielder
• Previous Clubs: Paris St-Germain, Chelsea
• International Caps: 21 for France
• Notable Achievements: European Championships starter for France, key contributor at PSG and Chelsea

With this club-record signing, Aston Villa Women aim to build a squad capable of challenging the league’s top sides while also nurturing emerging talent to establish themselves as a leading WSL team.