Chelsea Women: Jean-François joins on multi-year deal, adding to the French contingent

The youth incomings keep rolling in. Just 10 days after officially announcing her time in the French capital had come to an end, Oriane Jean-François joined Chelsea Women on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on Tuesday, agreeing to a three-year contract with an additional one-year option.

Not only will she team up with her French teammates, Sandy Baltimore and Ève Périsset, at the club level, but she will also reunite with Ashley Lawrence, a former teammate at PSG during the 2022-2023 season.

"It is a good moment for my career and the player I want to be. I’m very happy to sign here and I’m excited to start my journey," said CFCW's newest recruit.

In her interview with the club, the desire for a new challenge mixed with the fact that a French woman now leads the club led her to opt not to extend her stay with the 2020–21 Division 1 Féminine champions.

The young defensive midfielder, who has been with PSG since July 2022, started in 22 of the 24 games in the French top-flight, the Division 1 Féminine. Unfortunately, her previous campaign was cut short due to an injury she suffered against Manchester United in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers in October. Jean-François was stretchered off the pitch in the 18th minute for what was later discovered to be an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

She made sure to reassure Chelsea fans about her health, stating, "My knee is feeling very good. At the end of last season, I was training completely with the club, so I am ready to start the new season here with Chelsea."

The midfielder, who claimed the 2019 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship with France, was a constant for the Paris outfit during her debut campaign there. She was the only player to contribute over 1,700 league minutes and 20 starts for PSG as the club finished just six points behind Lyon in the race for the title. Her 79 tackles plus interceptions that season were the most by any player on Les Parisiennes. Add that to the fact that she completed 1,395 passes in those 21 games - far and away a team-high.

During the 2022-2023 Champions League campaign, she achieved a pass completion percentage in the 91st percentile and recorded 9.18 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, placing her in the 86th percentile among midfielders.

She models her game after Chelsea great N'Golo Kanté. You can see why with those numbers.

Jean-François was born in French Guiana and grew up a Chelsea supporter, largely influenced by Florent Malouda, the former Chelsea midfielder who was also born in French Guiana and made over 229 appearances for the club per Transfermarkt.

The native of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni left for the French mainland at just 15 years young to join the under-16 team of FCF Juvisy, a club that is now known as Paris FC, the darlings of the last Champions League season.

"I know that the women and men’s teams win trophies here. I know that Chelsea is Chelsea. Nothing else can be like Chelsea," explained the French international.

Jean-François provides the needed depth in defensive midfield following the departure of Melanie Leupolz

That's music to the ears of fans, like me, who were devastated by the loss of German Melanie Leupolz, one of the most consistent midfielders at the club in recent years. It's a move that continues to make this squad much younger under this new regime. After winning a fifth straight Women's Super League crown, the West Londoners said farewell to three players 30 years or older. On the incomings side, the English powerhouse has now inked a deal with a third player under the age of 25 since the beginning of July.

Jean-Francois will likely play a defensive pivot role alongside Sophie Ingle, Erin Cuthbert, or Sjoeke Nusken, otherwise known as "Ms. Do It All." The newcomer could also provide depth at center back, a role she has played for PSG, including in her final match with the club alongside Elisa De Almeida.