United Women agree record fee to sell superstar striker to arch rivals in WSL – BBC

Manchester United Women have had a challenging few months. Difficult end to the season In spite of a very strong start to the season, Manchester United Women imploded in the run-in. They lost the League Cup final, were knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup, and also fell out of the top three, missing out on European football next season. The club have also had a challenging summer, as they have so far only been able to bring in one player: Spanish fullback Andrea Medina from Atletico Madrid. This has also occurred in the context of numerous rivals, both above and below them in the table, making significant moves to improve their squads. Consequently, The Peoples Person has highlighted that this has caused significant concern in the fanbase and raised further uncomfortable questions over the owners’ interest in the women’s team. Melvine Malard loss The summer has taken another difficult turn for fans, as they have now seemingly lost one of their best players to rivals Chelsea. The BBC report that, “Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Manchester United striker Melvine Malard for about £850,000.” What’s more, “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.” The Chelsea manager was Malard’s boss at Lyon before she left for United in 2023. United Women had hoped to keep the player by offering her a new deal, but the French star rejected the chance and told the hierarchy that she wanted the move. The Athletic report that the deal “would represent a club-record sale for United and the highest fee a women’s club has received for a player with a year left on their contract.” With fixtures for the new season set to be announced at the end of the month, fans will soon be hoping the Malard money can be reinvested in strengthening the team so they have more to look forward to after a very disheartening start to the window. Melvine Malard WSL 25/26 stats Games playedGoalsAssistsMins played 20631431 Featured image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.