Credit: Imago and Manh Tung, Breaking Media

NSWE green light Aston Villa Women to sign Chelsea star as record fee agreed

Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with experience at the Northern Echo and Durham Cricket Club; Teesside University graduate. FOCUS Long-form opinion and deep-dive content across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Jacob utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, analytical reporting. He provides in-depth opinion and insight to ensure fans get beyond the headlines and into the detail.

Published on:

10 Jan 2026, 7:15 am

Aston Villa Women have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign Oriane Jean-Francois.

NSWE internally sold Aston Villa Women after official documents on Companies House were revealed on Friday.

Villa have battled Profit and Sustainability Rules issues for a while, and disconnecting the women's team means both sides will have more financial breathing space as different legal entities.

Aston Villa Women are ambitious and aim to one day challenge for the WSL league title.

The move for Jean-Francois is another step in the right direction.

Oriane Jean-Francois set for Chelsea Women's record sale

Aston Villa Women have consistently remained in a comfortable position in the WSL over the years, with midtable finishes suggesting an extra bit of quality might be needed.

Natalia Arroyo's side are currently finding themselves in a rough patch in terms of results, but with the January window open, the Spanish head coach can now receive reinforcements.

According to Ben Jacobs on Saturday, Chelsea Women are set to sell Jean-Francois to Aston Villa Women for a deal worth £450,000, which would be the Blues' record sale.

Chelsea Women set to sell midfielder Oriane Jean-Francois to Aston Villa for £450k. It is a record sale for a #CFCW player.💷 pic.twitter.com/3vXsHnIyrC
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 10, 2026

The midfielder has struggled for game time under Sonia Bompastor and can be a useful addition in the centre of the park for Villa.

Read more: Roberto Olabe’s project clear to see as Aston Villa line up new signing after Brian Madjo agreement

Jean Francois is a serial trophy-winner

Jean-Francois's primary position is central midfield, but the 24-year-old can also break up play in a more defensive role.

Although she hasn't played much this season, Jean-Francois was integral to Chelsea's treble-winning campaign last year, where she played 22 times in all competitions.

Jean-Francois' season with Chelsea last campaign:

Women's League Cup (2024-25)
WSL (2024-25)
Women's FA Cup (2024-25

Not to mention that the former PSG player also won the Coupe de France Feminine with the French giants before making the move to England.

Aston Villa Women have got a real gem on their hands if the deal goes through, and there's a reason why she's coming with such a hefty price tag.

Stay up to date this winter with our Aston Villa transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Villa Park, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.

Oriane Jean-Francois