West Ham United have signed France U-23 international Inès Belloumou from Bayern Munich, with the 23-year-old full-back being loaned to Lazio for the 2024/25 campaign.
There she will be able to accumulate the necessary points to meet the Governing Body Endorsement criteria for international player visas.
Belloumou has over 70 appearances in the top divisions of France and Germany, while being capped by her country from U-16s through to Up-23s.
She was a constant feature in the Montpellier defence for two seasons, leading to the move to Bayern last summer.
Belloumou told whufc.com: “I’ve been speaking with the club for a long time now and I felt I had to come here. I’ve spoken with the French players who I know well, Vivi [Asseyi] and Hawa [Cissoko], and they both said, ‘Inès, you have to come. You will not be disappointed’.
“This is a new chapter for me. I have played in France and Germany and I’m now looking forward to playing in England. All are different styles of play but for me, the Women’s Super League is the best league and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Head coach Rehanne Skinner commented: “We have been monitoring Inès’ progress for a while now so I’m delighted to be welcoming her to the club.
“Inès is a left-footed defender who is technically astute. Her attacking and defensive work fits our style of play and we feel her playing attributes will complement our existing defensive options.
“Having already gained a wealth of experience in the national team youth set-up, as well as the top divisions in both France and Germany, we are confident that Inès will be a great addition to the squad when she returns from her loan spell.”
