Paris FC women’s rebuild gathers pace with new backing and academy | OneFootball

Paris FC’s women are accelerating on and off the pitch after new investment, with a strengthened staff, broader recruitment and a revamped academy base.

According to L'Équipe, early thrashings, 1-7 at Lyon on 12 September and 2-5 at Barcelona on 23 September, belied that progress. OL’s women’s director general Vincent Ponsot even labelled PFC a reference in French women’s football.

Since the Arnault family’s takeover in late 2024, PFC have stepped up, winning the Coupe de France on the third of May 2025 after 0-0 and 5-4 penalties against PSG. They then reached the Première Ligue final, losing 0-5 to Lyon on 29 May 2026, with chief executive Jean-Marc Gallot stressing a step-by-step build.

Coach Sandrine Soubeyrand cites significant financial latitude and a clear plan, with investment in infrastructure and performance support. The new women’s academy is operational, housing 24 on site, with an Aquaflow sub-irrigated pitch, plus staff additions including a data analyst, a dietitian and a psychologist.

Sporting director Gaëtane Thiney says everything has been rethought to strengthen player care across elite demands, and Red Bull is providing organisational and infrastructure expertise. The training centre and academy are expanding from eight to 16 hectares.

Despite 10 arrivals and 7 departures, cohesion is already evident. Recruitment balanced youth and experience and broadened football cultures, with Ecuador’s Manoly Baquerizo on the left and Canada forward Evelyne Viens leading the line. Soubeyrand adds there is now greater sporting room for manoeuvre, with Thiney fronting recruitment under Marco Neppe’s oversight.

Source: L'Équipe

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