French Women's Football Ready for Another Exciting Season

Looking Back at the 2025/26 Season The 2025/26 campaign once again confirmed OL Lyonnes as the dominant force in French women's football. Despite the disappointment of losing the UEFA Women's Champions League final, Lyon responded in perfect fashion by winning the domestic championship. They defeated Paris FC 5-0 in the playoff final to lift their 19th French league title, with Haitian star Melchie Dumornay producing a spectacular hat-trick in the decisive match. The introduction of the playoff system once again created an exciting end to the season. Paris FC enjoyed the best campaign in the club's history, finishing second in the regular season before reaching the championship final, while Paris Saint-Germain completed the podium.

Further down the table, the relegation battle went down to the final day. AS Saint-Étienne and RC Lens were initially relegated to the Seconde Ligue after dramatic finales. However, during the summer, Lens was officially reinstated to the top division following the exclusion of Dijon FCO Féminin from national competitions for administrative reasons. New Clubs in the Arkema Première Ligue Two ambitious clubs earned promotion from the Seconde Ligue after outstanding campaigns. Toulouse FC secured automatic promotion by winning the second division title, while US Saint-Malo achieved a historic first-ever promotion to the French top flight after finishing second.

Nantes-OM, season 25/26

Summer Transfer Market The transfer window has already brought several interesting additions across the league. Newly promoted Marseille strengthened their midfield by signing experienced French international Claire Lavogez, while FC Fleury 91 secured one of France's brightest young forwards by recruiting Lucie Calba after an impressive season with Nantes. Promoted Toulouse FC has also been active in the market, adding Portuguese midfielder Luísa Oliveira Brás as they prepare for their return to the top division. Several other clubs are expected to complete further signings before the transfer window closes, making this one of the busiest summers in recent years.

The 2026/27 Season The new Arkema Première Ligue season will officially begin during the weekend of 5 September 2026. Among the opening fixtures are: FC Fleury 91 vs OL Lyonnes Olympique de Marseille vs Le Havre Montpellier vs Toulouse FC Strasbourg vs US Saint-Malo Paris FC vs Nantes Paris Saint-Germain vs Dijon or RC Lens (depending on the final administrative outcome) The championship will once again feature 12 clubs, 22 regular-season matches, followed by the now-established playoff system to determine the French champion. The semi-finals are scheduled for mid-May 2027, while the championship final will be played during the first weekend of June.

Season Preview OL Lyonnes remain the clear favourites to defend their title, boasting one of the strongest squads in world football. However, Paris FC has shown remarkable growth over the past two seasons and will look to take another step forward after reaching last year's final. Paris Saint-Germain, eager to return to the top of French football, will once again be among the title contenders, while clubs such as Fleury, Nantes and Marseille hope to challenge for playoff positions.

For the newly promoted Toulouse and Saint-Malo, survival will be the immediate objective, but both clubs have demonstrated the ambition needed to compete at this level. With increasing investment, rising attendances and a growing number of international stars, the 2026/27 Arkema Première Ligue promises another fascinating chapter for French women's football, combining elite quality, emerging talent and an increasingly competitive race for the national championship.