French-Born Nigerian Forward Adedini Signs First Professional Contract With Chelsea

French-born Nigerian forward Rachael Adedini has signed her first professional contract with top English women side Chelsea, completesports.com reports.

The Blues announced the signing in a statement released on their website on Tuesday.

“Chelsea can confirm that promising young forward Rachael Adedini has signed her first contract as a professional with the club.

“A dynamic and versatile forward, Adedini is a central striker, and can also play out wide. The 17-year-old has represented France Under-17s on 24 occasions and has played at Under-19 level twice.

“The young forward was born in Le Havre in France. She has played at three consecutive Women’s Under-17 European Championships since the 2023/24 campaign and has stood out with nine goals in total.

“That strike rate has seen her equal Germany’s Shekiera Martinez as the all-time top scorer at the Women’s Under-17 Euros.

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“France made the final in 2026, narrowly losing to Germany with a 1-0 defeat. Adedini finished the tournament with the Golden Boot award after scoring in a 5-0 win over Poland and netting a brace in a 4-1 victory over Finland in the group stages.

“Everyone at Chelsea extends a warm welcome to Rachael, and we look forward to watching her progress.

Speaking after completing her move, Adedini told Chelsea website:“I’m thankful to God, and the reason behind this is because my brother’s a big fan, and we’ve always loved Chelsea, so playing here today is a massive pride for me and my family.”

Adedini, who is of Nigerian descent through her parents, joined the youth academy of French side CM Ingré. Following her stint there, she joined the youth academy of French side Orléans in 2021.

Subsequently, she joined the youth academy of English side Manchester United in 2022.

Two years later, she joined the youth academy of English side Manchester City and was signed to their U21 side in the 2025–26 season.

By James Agberebi

James Agberebi is a sports content creator and analyst with a passion for football and other sports. He writes sports news, match reports, and analysis to keep fans informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams. His experience covering Nigerian football gives him a good understanding of the game and the teams he writes about. Through his work with Complete Sports, James shares sports updates, match coverage, and analysis with readers in Nigeria and around the world.