Chelsea's Women's Super League team have confirmed the departure of midfielder Oriane Jean-Francois to league rivals Aston Villa in a deal that sets a new club-record sale for the Blues.
A Landmark Deal for Both Clubs
The permanent transfer, agreed on 13th January 2026, represents a significant piece of business for both WSL outfits. For Chelsea, the fee received for the 22-year-old is a new high for their women's side. Conversely, Aston Villa have made a club-record purchase to secure the French-Guiana-born player's signature.
Jean-Francois leaves Stamford Bridge after an 18-month spell, having originally joined from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2024. During her time with the Blues, she was part of the squad that secured a domestic treble in the 2024/25 season, making 22 appearances, scoring twice and providing one assist.
Jean-Francois Seeks Ambitious Villa Project
In her first comments as an Aston Villa player, Jean-Francois expressed clear excitement about the move. "I'm very, very happy to be here and I can't wait to get started," she said. Explaining her decision, she highlighted the club's ambition as a key factor.
"Why Aston Villa? I'd say because I was looking for an ambitious project and that's what I felt when I spoke with the team," Jean-Francois stated. "I was very convinced about the project so that's why I'm here."
She also pointed to Villa's style of play as a perfect fit, adding: "When I was still with Chelsea and played against Aston Villa, I saw a very good team that plays good football. So, I knew here I could fit into the team."
WSL Landscape and Transfer Context
The transfer fee involved is reported to be £450,000. This deal occurs in a rapidly evolving WSL transfer market. Chelsea themselves previously held the world record fee for a women's player after signing defender Naomi Girma for £1.2m in January 2025, only for Arsenal to break that mark by signing Liverpool's Olivia Smith for £1 million in the summer of 2025.
The move sees Jean-Francois switch from a Chelsea side currently second in the WSL, six points behind Manchester City, to an Aston Villa team sitting 11 points adrift of the Blues. Her stated ambition is to help Villa reach the European stage. "I'm here to help, to keep learning and to keep improving," she said, acknowledging she is "still young and a player who has things to learn."
Chelsea issued a statement wishing the player well: "Everyone at Chelsea would like to wish Oriane the very best for the future as she begins a new chapter in her career."
