Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Manchester United striker Melvine Malard for about £850,000.
The 26-year-old France international is set to have a medical before completing her move to Stamford Bridge, where she will be reunited with manager Sonia Bompastor.
Malard is expected to become Chelsea’s third signing of the summer after the versatile Katie McCabe and midfielder Manaka Matsukubo.
She represents an important addition to Bompastor’s attacking options after Sam Kerr left to join American club Gotham FC.
United had hoped to keep Malard by offering her a new deal, but she told the club she wanted to leave. They agreed a fee with Chelsea rather than risk losing her for free next summer.
With 19 goal involvements in all competitions last season, Malard was statistically United’s most productive attacker.
She knows Bompastor from their time together at Lyon, who United signed her from in 2023.