Ribadeira Joins Everton On Loan

Everton have signed France international striker Louna Ribadeira on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.

The promising 20-year-old forward becomes the Toffees’ fifth acquisition of the January transfer window, following the arrivals of Kelly Gago, Martina Fernandez, Emma Watson and Hayley Ladd.

The highly-rated Ribadeira, who won last season’s Division 1 Féminine Young Player of the Year while with Paris FC, is excited to get going with Brian Sorensen’s Blues.

“I'm very happy to be here because Everton is one of the best clubs in the WSL,” she told evertontv. “So I'm very happy and I'm looking forward to starting.

“It’s good to get experience in this league because I know this league is tough; it's aggressive, it's physical. So I think it's a good step to progress and to adapt.

“Brian (Sorensen) is a good, good coach, so I'm happy to work with him. I'm excited to start.”

Ribadeira joined Chelsea in August 2024 from Paris FC, where she made more than 60 senior appearances, before returning to the French capital on loan for the first half of this campaign.

Alongside her club football, the talented striker featured for France at the 2023 Under-19s European Championships, where she was the top scorer, reaching the semi-finals and earning Player of the Tournament.

In May 2024, Ribadeira made her debut for the renowned competitive senior France international side, helping ‘Les Bleus’ to a 2-1 away victory over England at St James’ Park.

Ribadeira revealed she has her long-term targets set on being the world’s best No.9, explaining: “I have a lot of ambition. I want to work, I want to take experience, I want to help the team because we have ambition. I want to have more qualities.

“I work every day to be best striker in the world. Paris FC is my first club. I think it's important to know other leagues, other championships. I want to be a big striker in the world.”

A physically strong centre forward, Ribadeira hopes to bring “aggression” and “fight” to the Blues’ frontline.

She added: “It's my game. I like to be aggressive; I like to be in contact with the defence. When I go to the pitch, it's to play, it's to take pleasure and I like the fight.”

 On the Blues’ fifth signing of the January window, manager Sorensen said: “Louna is an excellent talent which is why Chelsea signed her to a long-term contract. She is a different type of No.9 striker who can drop into midfield and build up play, while her finishing is top quality.

“Louna joins us after sustaining a minor injury so we need to manage that correctly and build her up, but I’m sure she will be a good fit for us and can settle in well in the WSL.”