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Chelsea’s long-standing French connection
- Chelsea are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final on Sunday
- FIFA explores the long-standing love affair between the London club and French player
- In total, 26 French internationals have pulled on the Chelsea shirt over the years
Since Frank Leboeuf’s arrival in 1996, Chelsea FC have consistently maintained a distinct French flavour in their ranks. Since the defender's signing, 26 Frenchmen have featured for the London club, ranging from Marcel Desailly and Nicolas Anelka to Olivier Giroud and N’Golo Kante. Collectively, Les Bleus have been influential in shaping the club’s recent identity.
Behind the numbers lies a diverse cast of characters: charismatic leaders, clinical goalscorers, FIFA World Cup™ winners and promising young talents chasing a breakthrough. Some have become legends, while others have bowed out with little fanfare. But each has contributed a chapter to the love story between Chelsea and their French contingent.
As the Blues prepare for their showdown with PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final, FIFA takes a look at the close bond between Stamford Bridge and Les Bleus.
The trailblazer: Frank Leboeuf
The first Frenchman to lead the way was Leboeuf, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 1996 from Strasbourg. The Marseille-born centre-back broke into the starting line-up from day one and hit the ground running in his English career, scoring four goals in his first seven Premier League outings. Strong in the challenge and composed in possession, he quickly became a mainstay of the Londoners’ back line.
Over five seasons, Leboeuf made 204 appearances in all competitions and collected a glittering haul of silverware: two FA Cups, the League Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and, most notably, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998 – a rare taste of European glory for the club at the time.
The post-’98 tricolour tide
In Leboeuf’s wake, three of France’s 1998 FIFA World Cup™ winners made their way to Stamford Bridge. Marcel Desailly was the first, arriving from AC Milan ahead of the 1998/99 season. A year later, he was joined by Didier Deschamps, captain of the French national team. Emmanuel Petit, a goalscorer in the World Cup final, followed in 2001.
These three heavyweights of French football enjoyed mixed fortunes in west London. Deschamps brought pedigree and leadership but stayed only a single season, his time at the club brief and relatively low-key.
Petit’s Chelsea career was curtailed by injury in its latter stages, though he did forge a dependable midfield partnership with a talismanic Frank Lampard. Desailly, by contrast, left a lasting imprint. Dubbed 'The Rock' by fans, he became an iconic captain and now features on the Shed Wall, Chelsea’s tribute to its legends
Top scorer: Nicolas Anelka
Signed during the 2008 winter transfer window, Anelka arrived at Chelsea with a wealth of Premier League experience and made an immediate impression. Slotting seamlessly into the London club’s attack, he quickly became a key figure. A versatile forward capable of leading the line or playing just off the striker, he was known for his technical finesse, intelligent movement and clinical finishing.
Anelka hit top form in the 2008/09 season, finishing as the Premier League’s leading scorer with 19 goals – a campaign that cemented his reputation as a striker of the highest calibre. Under Carlo Ancelotti, he formed a potent attacking trio alongside Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda, playing a central role in Chelsea’s Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010 – a defining period of his time at Stamford Bridge.
In total, Anelka made 184 appearances for the Blues, scoring 59 goals and winning two FA Cups, one Premier League title and a Community Shield. Although he departed the club a few months before their historic UEFA Champions League triumph in 2012, his contribution to Chelsea’s success in the early-2010s was considerable.
With 59 goals to his name, Anelka remains Chelsea’s all-time leading French goalscorer, ahead of Florent Malouda (45) and 2018 World Cup winner Olivier Giroud (39).
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Midfield marvel: N’Golo Kante
Kante joined Chelsea in 2016 from Leicester City, fresh from the Foxes' remarkable Premier League title triumph, and immediately established himself as the heartbeat in the Blues midfield. In his first season in west London, he pulled off the rare feat of becoming a Premier League champion in back-to-back campaigns with two different clubs, and was named the division’s Player of the Season for 2016/17, finishing ahead of team-mate Eden Hazard. Tireless and relentlessly effective, Kante quickly endeared himself to the Chelsea faithful. During his time at the club, he also reached the pinnacle of international football, helping France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia.
Having won the UEFA Europa League in 2019, Kante’s crowning achievements in Europe came in 2021. He was named Player of the Match in both legs of a Champions League semi-final win over Real Madrid C. F. and again in their 1-0 final victory over Manchester City. Later that year, he helped Chelsea become world champions when they secured a 2-1 extra-time victory over SE Palmeiras.
In total, Kante made 269 appearances for the Blues, more than any other French player in the club’s history. He sits ahead of Florent Malouda (229) and William Gallas (225).
The French connection continues
For several years now, Chelsea have maintained a strong French presence in their squad, evidence of the enduring appeal of talent from across the Channel. The English powerhouse have continued to draw on the deep pool of players developed in Ligue 1, attracted by the quality of France’s footballing education – long renowned for producing tactically astute, well-rounded footballers with high potential.
This recruitment strategy has only intensified in recent seasons, with the arrivals of Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto and, more recently, Mathis Amougou and Mamadou Sarr. Following Amougou's transfer to Strasbourg, five members of the squad have represented France at some level of international level – a remarkable number for an English club.
Among them, two have particularly stood out for their impact on the pitch at the Club World Cup. Nkunku notably scored a goal in extra time in their dramatic last-16 win over SL Benfica. Gusto has arguably been even more impressive. A standout performer on the right flank, he has been instrumental throughout the tournament in the United States.
At Stamford Bridge, the French influence remains as vibrant as ever, providing both a proud legacy and a promising sign of things to come.
