Eve Perisset: Chelsea sign France defender on three-year deal from Bordeaux
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Eve Perisset has made 125 appearances across her French Division One career
Chelsea have signed France defender Eve Perisset from Bordeaux on a three-year deal.
The 27-year-old joins after two years with the French side, where she made 45 appearances.
Perisset is a five-time Coupe de France winner and won the Champions League with Lyon in 2016.
"It's a fantastic honour to join Chelsea and to be the first French female player to become a blue," Perisset said.
"The time was right for me to make this big move to London and join the English Super League, and I cannot wait to meet the team and the fans later this summer at Kingsmeadow and at the famous Stamford Bridge."
Perisset is the first signing Chelsea have made under their new owners, a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
The club was put up for sale in March before previous owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned over his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said she has no doubt the "tenacious defender" will complement the current Women's Super League champions.
"Eve brings a wealth of experience and is versatile player who is able to play in both full-back positions and midfield," Hayes said.
Perisset started her career with Lyon in 2012, where she played for four years before making the move to Paris St-Germain.
Since making her senior international debut in 2016, Perisset has racked up 34 appearances for France and has been selected for Euro 2022.
She will join Hayes' side on 1 July and will wear the number 15 shirt for the Blues.
Blues to play International Champions Cup
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been confirmed as participants in the International Champions Cup, a four-team tournament in the USA this August.
The WSL champions will line up alongside Champions League winners Lyon, United States champions Portland Thorns and Mexican title holders CF Monterrey.
Chelsea will play Lyon in the first semi-final on 17 August in Portland, Oregon, with the winners going through to the final on 20 August.
It will be the Blues' first appearance in a competition which Manchester City have played in twice, finishing third in 2018 and 2019.
"Each year the WICC competition grows as the world's top players circle their calendars for the chance to be crowned the best club in the world," said Relevent Sports Group chief executive Daniel Sillman.
"We are honoured to be hosting the stars of the game on the biggest stage and we hope to inspire the next generation of girls and boys to compete in the world's game."
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