Everton have completed the signing of France forward Noemie Mouchon on a free transfer from Leicester City, the Women's Super League club confirmed. The 23-year-old arrives at Goodison looking for a fresh start after a difficult second season at Leicester that ended in relegation from the top flight.

From Lille to the WSL

Mouchon came through the ranks at childhood club Lille before spending a year with fellow French side Reims. She made the move to English football two years ago when Leicester brought her into the WSL, and she went on to make 24 appearances for the Foxes, netting twice across her time with the club.

The relegation Leicester suffered in May this spring brought her stint there to a natural close, and Everton have wasted little time moving to snap her up ahead of the new WSL campaign. With no transfer fee involved, it is the kind of smart, low-risk business that clubs competing in the middle tier of the WSL table need to get right.

Pace and goals on the agenda

Mouchon has been candid about what she wants to bring to the Toffees. Speaking after the deal was confirmed, she left little doubt about her ambitions on Merseyside.

"I feel really excited to start with the team and this new club," she said. "I am the type of player who can bring something on the pitch. I am a fast player and I love to score goals, so I can't wait. I just want to score a lot with Everton. That's my only objective."

It is a straightforward statement of intent from a forward who will be keen to prove she can perform consistently at WSL level after a stint in a Leicester side that ultimately could not hold its own in the division.

Building for the new season

The Mouchon deal is not the only business Everton are pursuing. Reports earlier on the same day indicated the club were closing in on a permanent agreement for midfielder Blundell, suggesting the Toffees are putting serious work into reshaping their squad ahead of the upcoming WSL season.

Mouchon's profile — a quick, direct forward who plays on instinct and movement — gives Everton an option capable of stretching defences and creating danger in behind. If she can find the consistency her talent suggests is there, she could prove a genuine asset as Everton look to push up the WSL standings.

The noises out of the club are positive. With free transfers of this type increasingly hard to come by in a WSL market that grows more competitive every summer, landing a French international-level forward without a fee attached is exactly the kind of deal that can make the difference over the course of a long season.

Frequently asked

Why did Noemie Mouchon leave Leicester City?
Leicester City were relegated from the Women's Super League in May, which brought Mouchon's contract to a close and allowed her to leave as a free agent.
How much did Everton pay for Noemie Mouchon?
Everton signed Mouchon on a free transfer, meaning no fee was paid to Leicester City.
What position does Noemie Mouchon play?
Mouchon is a forward. She describes herself as a fast, goal-hungry player who likes to get in behind defences and score.