The 21-year-old defender made the move to London from Montpellier in her native France. She has gone on to make six appearances, four of which have come in the UEFA Champions League and two from the bench in the Women's Super League.

'It has been a lot of new experiences,' Mpome tells us from our winter training camp in Portugal. 'I have discovered a lot. It has been my first time playing in the Champions League, being in a new country and with a new team.

'I had only had one club as a professional before I came to Chelsea. It has been very interesting. I have learned a lot of new things.'

A Chelsea debut arrived when Mpome came off the bench in the 89th minute in our first Champions League match of the season against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge.

She entered the fray minutes after the visitors had pulled another goal back to make the score 3-2. At that moment in time, the defender knew she had a job to do. The celebrations of reaching the milestone had to wait until the full-time whistle.

'The best memory since I've been here has to be my first game,' Mpome says. 'When I came on as a substitute and getting to do that in front of the home fans.

'It is always better to make your debut at home. The game was very close so when I came on I had to be totally focused. I didn't have much time to enjoy it in the moment because I had a job to do then, but afterwards, it was so nice.

'When I got my first start, against Celtic, I was just ready to go. I had been waiting for that. It was only positive feelings. I didn't feel the pressure because it was just about totally enjoying the moment.'

And for all the new experiences gained, there have also been many learnings both on and off the pitch. The young defender has had to adjust to life in a new country and a different style of football.

'English!' Mpome laughs when we ask what has been her biggest learning to date. 'But, no it's a new culture and a different lifestyle. I've had to adapt and that was the hardest at the beginning, but I'm used to things now and really enjoying it.

'Of course, it's different to when I was living in the south of France with blue skies and nice weather, but it's still nice.

'There are more people here in England who follow women's sports, especially football. They are great fans and it is so nice that people are enjoying it. You can feel that on the pitch and I love that.'

'For sure, the intensity,' Mpome adds. 'The league here in England is on a different level to what I was used to. I feel like that has been such a good thing for me personally.'

Amidst the transition, life has been made easier by Mpome's Chelsea team-mates. Less than six months into her time in London, she no longer feels new and credits that feeling to the support she has had from her fellow Blues.

'The girls have made everything for me to be comfortable,' Mpome explains. 'Since I came in, I've had such a good time.

'From the very beginning, I felt like part of the team. I've never really felt like I was new. I just felt part of it and ready to go. It was the best way to come into a new team.'

But, there have been some home comforts which have also helped. Mpome is one of six French additions made in the summer, joining the club alongside head coach Sonia Bompastor, assistants Camille Abily and Theo Rivrin, Sandy Baltimore, and Oriane Jean-Francois. They joined compatriot Eve Perisset, who has been at the club since 2022.

'The days when you don't understand anything, it's good to just be able to switch back to French!' Mpome jokes.

When we return from Portugal, the Blues will be looking to maintain their fine form which saw us go 16 games unbeaten before the winter break. Bompastor's side sit six points clear at the top of the league table and secured a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Mpome, who is contracted to the club until 2028, has her own goals for the upcoming second half of the season. She knows this is only the beginning of her Chelsea career, a period where she can put the foundations in place, but desires the chance to keep showing what she can do.

'Hopefully, I can get more opportunities and more game time,' Mpome says. 'I'm trying to find the balance of getting used to a new team, a new country and a new intensity but also I'm a professional athlete.

'I am still hard-working and feel like I have a point to prove here at Chelsea.'

The preparations to hit those goals are currently taking place in the Algarve. Having signed just after our pre-season tour of the USA, this trip, Mpome says, has been a good opportunity to grow even closer as a team.

'I feel like I have had the chance to get to talk to some of the girls who I haven't had the chance to speak to as much at Cobham,' Mpome said. 'We have had some fun activities, like at dinner where we played games. It's been really good.'