There is not just one person who has influenced Oriane Jean-Francois’ career.

‘It has been my whole family,’ the French international tells us. ‘It is not just one person in particular.’

Whether she was playing for Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni back in French Guiana, or deciding to leave home at only 15 years old to move to the mainland of France to join the club that would become Paris FC, her family have supported her all the way.

That support has continued to stretch over many miles after she made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Chelsea in the summer.

‘Why my family?’ Oriane ponders. ‘I’m far away from them. So, for me to be able to share these moments with them and for them to follow my career.

‘When I was playing back home, they were not coming to games because I didn’t really want them to when I was younger, but now that I am away I would like for them to be able to come to watch me.’

The 23-year-old’s passion for the game started at home. She grew up in a football-loving family with her dad, grandpa, and brother, who were also all playing.

‘I used to do training with my dad at home, I remember one time we were doing shooting practice and he was in goal,’ Oriane reflects. ‘He told me I had to shoot stronger and that it was too weak.

‘I gave everything I had in that moment. I twisted his thumb and it got injured because the shot was just too powerful. I showed him!’

Those training sessions proved to be the foundations of a player who has gone on to already achieve much success. Making the move to London, Oriane says, was the right next step in her journey.

‘My family are proud,’ she says. ‘Even when I was in Paris, but now that I’m in another country and in another league, they know how much more competitive it is here and what that means to me.’

One of the proudest moments Oriane has shared with her family is returning home as a European champion.

She was part of the France squad that won the Under-19 European Championship in Scotland back in 2019, with her now Chelsea team-mate Sandy Baltimore scoring the equaliser in the eventual 2-1 win over Germany.

‘After the under-19s Euros in 2019, we won the tournament and I went back home with my gold medal around my neck,’ Oriane beams.

‘It was such a big moment. My dad cried and my grandma, too. Everyone was just so happy and proud of me.’

And to share those moments, the highs and the lows, with those who mean the most is what this is all for, Oriane reminds us.

‘Sometimes you go through the hardest moments in your career, but you can never forget why you do what you do,’ Oriane says. ‘And that’s for my family.

‘I never do it for only myself. I do this for my parents because I want to help them have an easier life and help my whole family as much as I can.’