Melvine Malard’s personality shines through in a matter of minutes.
After walking into one of the hospitality boxes at Stamford Bridge, Malard immediately introduced herself to all the staff who had come to capture content with the striker ahead of her unveiling as Chelsea’s latest signing. With a big smile on her face, the 26-year-old instantly seemed at home.
Half-an-hour later and Malard’s infectious personality was even more evident. In-between shoots, she was laughing and joking with her wife, sister and two young nieces who had come to celebrate this special evening.
On camera, Malard spoke passionately about what she wants to achieve at Chelsea and how much she was looking forward to reuniting with Sonia Bompastor, the woman who had given the striker her big break at the age of 14.
And it wasn’t long before the France international was dancing down the Stamford Bridge tunnel and out onto the pitch she will call home over the coming years.
‘On and off the pitch, I always have a smile,’ Malard explained. ‘I want to show my energy and also feel the energy around me.
‘When I put on the shirt, I’m proud and I give everything,’ Malard continued.
‘But the fans can be sure that I’m here to win trophies and take Chelsea as far as we can go.’
You get the feeling Melvine would adapt to most environments well but the fact her ‘new’ head coach is the same person who brought her to France as a 14-year-old and was in charge of Lyon for the striker’s career highlight to date – starting in the victorious Champions League final in 2022 – can only help. As does the fact she already has great relationships with several staff members and senior players in the squad, namely Lucy Bronze, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ellie Carpenter and Sandy Baltimore.
Malard grew up on the small island of Reunion, a few hundred miles east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
She had tried out boxing and played handball with her sister for many years but it was football where her true passion lay.
As one of France’s overseas regions, Reunion’s football teams are included in the country’s regional competitions and it was at one of those at Clairefontaine where Bompastor, who was on the lookout for players for Lyon’s Academy, first spotted the teenage Malard.
When Sonia rang her Mum to ask about the prospect of Melvine moving to France, it wasn’t long before the teenager had her bags packed.
‘It was no problem to leave my home because I wanted to be a professional footballer and it was already in my head,’ Melvine said.
‘It was my opportunity so I left my family and lived alone in Lyon for two years before my family then came to France too.
‘I am someone who if I want something, then I go and get it.’
Malard had already won the Champions League three times before Bompastor became Lyon head coach in 2021 but, in her own words, had only played a small part in each of the victories. But when the French champions reached another final in Turin a year later, Melvine was named in the starting XI as they beat Barcelona 3-1.
‘Sonia has been so influential, for me and for my family,’ Malard said.
‘If Sonia had not called my Mum and taken me to Lyon, I would not be here today. She did so much for me when I was at Lyon.
‘Now whenever I see Sonia I feel proud because she is the one who told me to come to Lyon in the first place.
‘So it is amazing to have the opportunity to join her again. I really wanted to take this opportunity because I love this coach.
‘I have never worked under any other coaches who were such big footballers themselves, like Sonia and [assistant coach] Camille Abily were. I love having them as coaches because when you speak to them you know they know what it is like to play at this level.’
In the summer of 2023, Malard moved to England to join Manchester United, initially on loan and then a year later the move was made permanent.
There have been 21 goal contributions in 57 appearances during her three years in the North-West and Malard is hoping she can reach new heights back under the tutelage of Bompastor and her staff.
‘I think and hope working with Sonia again will help me reach the next level because Sonia knows me. She knows where I can improve and where she needs to push me more. Sonia took me to Lyon when I was 14, so she knows a lot about me.
‘Wearing this shirt can bring pressure, but it is good pressure because everyone wants better. Everyone wants to win trophies, improve and progress as a team. It is hard work, but good work.’
Malard has signed a four-year contract with the Blues and when asked what she hopes to achieve during that time, replied: ‘To become a top striker, win trophies with Chelsea and continue winning because Chelsea have won a lot of trophies over the years. I want to keep that going, enjoy myself and be happy in this city with my wife.’
No team has won the Women’s Super League more often than Chelsea, but there is one trophy which has eluded us thus far: the Champions League.
With several members of the coaching staff and a host of players having already lifted the famous trophy, Malard is confident the Blues can claim a maiden European crown in the coming years.
‘Winning the Champions League is one of my objectives,’ she stated. ‘I know Chelsea have never won it, so I think it is the trophy the club really wants. I hope we can win it while I’m here.
‘Chelsea have a very good mix of players: experienced players, young players, fun players and very focused players. It is very good to have that mix, and I’m excited to see the girls.’