Chelsea have confirmed that 17-year-old French forward Rachael Adedini has signed her first professional contract with the club, securing the future of one of France’s most promising young attacking talents.
Adedini, who can operate as a central striker or on either wing, arrives in the professional ranks with an impressive international record. The teenager has already represented France at two youth levels and established herself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of the UEFA Women’s Under-17 European Championship.
The agreement marks an important milestone in Adedini’s development, although Chelsea have not disclosed the length of her contract.
Chelsea announced the agreement on 20 October 2026, confirming that Adedini had committed her future to the London club. Born in Le Havre, France, the versatile attacker has made 24 appearances for France Under-17s and has also featured twice for the Under-19 national team.
Primarily a centre-forward, Adedini is equally capable of playing in wider attacking positions. Her versatility offers different possibilities as she continues her development within Chelsea’s setup.
Speaking after signing her first professional contract, Adedini expressed her excitement about joining the club. “I’m very happy to be here. I’m excited, and I’m grateful to be here,” she told Chelsea’s official website.
The teenager also explained that Chelsea has a special place in her family’s footballing interests, with her brother having supported the club for years.
Adedini’s performances for France at youth international level have been particularly impressive. The forward has appeared at three consecutive UEFA Women’s Under-17 European Championships since the 2023/24 campaign, scoring nine goals across those tournaments.
That tally puts her level with Germany’s Shekiera Martinez as the competition’s joint all-time leading goalscorer.
Her most recent appearance came at the 2026 tournament, where she helped France reach the final and finished as the competition’s Golden Boot winner.
Adedini scored during France’s 5-0 group-stage victory over Poland before adding two more goals in a 4-1 win against Finland. France eventually reached the final but were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Germany, ending their campaign as runners-up.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on the trophy, Adedini’s individual performances further strengthened her reputation as a promising attacking prospect.
Securing Adedini’s first professional contract represents another investment in young talent for Chelsea. The 17-year-old brings a proven scoring record at international youth level, alongside the flexibility to operate in multiple attacking roles.
Her ability to play centrally or out wide could prove valuable as she progresses, although Chelsea have not yet confirmed what role she will have in the senior squad.
The transition from youth international football to the professional game will be an important next step in her career.
The agreement provides an opportunity to develop a forward who has already demonstrated her goalscoring ability against some of Europe’s strongest youth national teams.
For Adedini, signing her first professional contract with a club competing at the highest level of English women’s football represents a significant achievement at just 17 years old.
The immediate focus will now turn to her continued development and the opportunities available as she begins her professional career.
_Source:_ [Chelsea FC – Rachael Adedini signs first professional contract](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/rachael-adedini-signs-first-professional-contract-with-chelsea)_._