Melvine Malard has revealed that football was the last sport she tried before discovering her passion for the game. The France international experimented with judo, boxing and handball before settling on football, which she described as her childhood dream.
Path to Chelsea via Bompastor
Malard's journey to Chelsea began under head coach Sonia Bompastor, who first spotted her at an under-15 match at France's national football centre in Clairefontaine when Malard was 14. Bompastor persuaded Malard's mother to allow the teenager to move from Réunion, a small island east of Madagascar.
Malard spent seven seasons at Lyonnes (formerly Lyon), where she won four Champions Leagues, three league titles and two Coupes de France. She then joined Manchester United on loan for one season before making the move permanent in 2024.
Club-record transfer and reunion
In July, Chelsea closed in on a deal to sign the forward for a club-record sale for Manchester United, understood to be about £850,000. Signing for Chelsea was a full circle moment for the forward, reuniting her with the manager who plucked her from her island life and gave her the chance to pursue her dream at the biggest club in Europe.
The 'island girl' aims to 'become a legend' in Réunion with Bompastor.
