Chelsea are back spending in the transfer market, after having their UK government-imposed sanctions lifted, with the women’s side the first to acquire a new player.
The Blues’ female outfit have signed versatile France defender Eve Perisset on a three-year contract until the summer of 2025.
She becomes the first player to join the west London outfit since new owner Todd Boehly completed a £4.25billion takeover at the end of last month.
Boehly bought the club after previous owner Roman Abramovich put it up for sale in early March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Sanctions on the Russian had also complicated the sale process.
The American-led consortium, spearheaded by businessman Boehly and investment firm Clearlake Capital, can now aid men’s manager Thomas Tuchel and women counterpart Emma Hayes in their planning ahead of next season.
And that has begun in earnest with the signing of Perisset for Hayes’ team.
Perisset, who can operate in both full-back positions and in midfield, began her career with Lyon and then spent four seasons at Paris St Germain before joining Bordeaux in 2020.
She has been capped 34 times by her country and is set to represent Les Bleues this summer at Euro 2022.
On signing the 27-year-old, Hayes told the Chelsea website: ‘Eve brings a wealth of experience and is a versatile player.
‘With her mentality and professionalism, we have no doubt she will complement the group well.’
Perisset has won the Champions League, French league title and the Coupe de France Feminine five times during her career, in addition to international glory in the Tournoi de France and She Believes Cup.
‘It’s a fantastic honour to join Chelsea and to be the first French female player to become a Blue,’ she said.
‘The time was right for me to make this big move to London and I cannot wait to meet the team and the fans.’
