Manchester United Women are on the brink of a club-record exit after Chelsea agreed a deal worth around £850,000 plus add-ons for forward Melvine Malard. The 26-year-old France international is entering the final year of her contract, and United will not risk losing her for nothing after previous free transfers of Alessia Russo and Mary Earps.

What’s happening with Melvine Malard?

Talks between Chelsea and United have reached an advanced stage over Malard’s transfer. The fee would be the highest ever received by a women’s club for a player with a year left on their contract. Malard joined United on loan in 2023 and has since scored 23 goals in 95 appearances across all competitions. Last season alone, she provided 10 goals and 10 assists in 40 games, including four goals and five assists in United’s historic Champions League run.

Malard previously played under Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor at Lyon, and the pair have known each other for over a decade. Her exit would leave a major gap in United’s forward line, where she scored six times in the WSL last term and four in Europe. United currently sit fourth in the FA WSL with 40 points from 22 games and a recent run of two losses followed by a draw and a win.

Why this matters for Manchester United Women

United have made just one signing so far this summer—defender Andrea Medina from Atletico Madrid on a free transfer. The club plans to reinvest Malard’s fee to strengthen their squad, with defence and the forward line the priority. A goalkeeper is expected to join shortly, and United were focused early in the window on moving out players to free up funds.

Malard’s departure would cap a difficult transfer window for United, who have already lost Russo and Earps for free in recent years. Her Champions League contributions last term—four goals in the knockout stages—helped United reach a maiden European quarter-final, a highlight in a season where they scored 38 goals and conceded 22, finishing 15 points behind league leaders Manchester City.

What comes next for both clubs?

For Chelsea, Malard would be their third summer signing after midfielder Manaka Matsukubo and defender Katie McCabe. She would bolster a forward line depleted by the exits of Sam Kerr and Cat Macario. United, meanwhile, will use the funds to rebuild, with three to four incomings likely later in the window.

Malard’s move would mark the end of a three-season spell at United, where she arrived on loan and became a key attacking threat. Her France career continues—she was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2025 knockout stages last summer. United’s summer rebuild now hinges on how quickly they can replace her firepower while keeping their WSL title race hopes alive, currently 15 points behind the leaders with 40 points from 22 games.