Birmingham City sign Chancelle Effa Effa from Le Havre for just over £100,000

Birmingham City have signed France youth international Chancelle Effa Effa from Le Havre in a transfer the club announced on 6 August 2026, and it is understood the Blues paid just over £100,000 for the 19-year-old striker.

Effa Effa progressed through Le Havre's academy and made her senior debut at the age of 15. She helped Le Havre secure promotion back to the French top flight in her breakthrough season and signed a professional contract in December 2022. The striker had a year remaining on her contract at Le Havre and has represented France at every age group from the U16s through to the U23s.

On joining Birmingham, Effa Effa said: "I am very happy to be joining Birmingham City - such a historic club - and experience the Women's Super League. From my very first conversations with the club, I was won over by the project. I sensed a genuine desire to build something strong, with great ambition. I can't wait to start this new adventure."

At youth international level, Effa Effa helped France lift the Women's U17s European title in 2023 before reaching the Women's U19s European final two years later. In total, she has scored 17 goals in 28 appearances for France's age groups.

Manager Amy Merricks commented on the signing: "Chancelle is a player we've been tracking for some time and we're delighted to bring her to Birmingham City. She's an exciting young forward with huge potential, who has already gained valuable experience in the French top flight and has consistently performed for France at youth international level. We're looking forward to helping her continue her development and seeing the impact she can make in a Blues shirt."

Earlier on Thursday, Birmingham City confirmed the appointments of Mark Beard as assistant head coach and Ben Chapman as goalkeeping coach. Beard made more than 300 appearances at a number of clubs including Millwall and Sheffield United, retired in 2011 and has coached at various levels with spells at Brighton and Hull City; his brother Matt led Liverpool to successive WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 but died last year aged 47. Chapman was previously at Manchester United, Stoke City and Wales and was a professional cricketer before he went into coaching.

Hope Powell said: "Alongside Amy and Jay [Bradford-Ogle], we've now got a really strong coaching group in place. They all bring different strengths and experiences."