West Ham have completed the signing of goalkeeper Constance Picaud on a three-year contract French club Fleury.
The 27-year-old was captain of the Premiere Ligue club and kept 19 clean sheets in 40 league appearances.
Picaud is also a France international, and featured in squads for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Olympic Games and the 2025 Women’s Euros.
“It’s a real honour to be joining West Ham United,” she said. “I’ve had several conversations with Rita [Guarino] and I’ve been really impressed by her mindset, her ambition and the importance she places on togetherness and team spirit.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play outside of France and I’m so excited to come to London, experience a new country and live in such an incredible city.
“It also meant a lot to me to be able to bring my family with me – that was a huge part of this decision. I’m happy wherever I am in the world as long as my wife, my daughter and my dog are by my side. Now, all four of us are about to begin an exciting new chapter at West Ham United, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Boss Guarino emphasised the importance of Picaud’s leadership skills in deciding to sign her.
“As a goalkeeper, [Picaud] has shown quality both in and out of possession, along with the composure and intelligence to control key moments in games, which will complement our playing style,” she said.
“Having captained her previous side in France, Constance has demonstrated strong leadership qualities, and her experience and mentality will be invaluable to this group moving forward.”