Arkema Première Ligue: Six standout talents who will define this 2026/27 season in France

Arkema Première Ligue: Six standout talents who will define this 2026/27 season in France The Arkema Première Ligue (APL) is now known as a reliable talent pool. This summer, richer leagues such as the WSL and the NWSL poached a number of players from the French top flight. Washington Spirit acquired rising African gems Melissa Bethi from Nantes and Monique Ngock from Fleury , while a record 21 French players should feature in the WSL this season. With emerging talent across the league, the APL is once again set to attract plenty of attention in the upcoming campaign. Here are six players ready to make their mark on the 2026/27 season in France. Julie Swierot (OL Lyonnes) The midfield engine When Lindsey Heaps announced her move to Denver Summit, it was understood that OL Lyonnes would bring in a new face, perhaps even a big name, to replace her. But why look elsewhere when Julie Swierot could fit right in? Making it into Lyon’s starting XI is rarely easy for academy players but Swierot’s maturity on the pitch stands out. Lyon is betting on her, extending her contract until 2029. Loaned to surprise underdogs Nantes, she helped the Canaris develop their technical, one-touch style of play. Rewarding a brilliant all-round campaign, she was named in the Première Ligue team of the season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by OL Lyonnes (@ol.lyonnes) The 20-year-old midfielder thrives in turning recoveries into attacks, using powerful passes to break the lines. Physically solid, she is comfortable holding off opponents and may even to try her luck from a distance. After rising through Les Bleuettes’ youth ranks, Swierot earned her first senior national team call-up with France in June. Swierot knows she has to prove herself quickly to convince Jonatan Giráldez to start her. Coming off the bench in the APL opener against Fleury this weekend, the newcomer offered a taste of her potential, turning heads before cracking a screamer from outside the box. Justine Rouquet (Montpellier FC) The “Rocket” Justine Rouquet’s breakthrough may have been what saved Montpellier from relegation. The little magician on the left flank can turn a game around at any time. The Rocket is not only phonetically close to her name. It mainly depicts her ability to quickly dribble past defenders and suits the kind of bangers she can score. The 19-year-old trickster finished among the Première Ligue’s top scorers, netting nine goals last season. Her lob beating Mary Earps from the halfway line was awarded best of the season, and that is just the beginning. Also named Young Player of the Season by both the league ( LFFP ) and the players ( UNFP ), it is hard to imagine she was not courted during the summer. Rouquet also earned her first senior call-up under Laurent Bonadei in June. Embed from Getty Images While the Crux-owned club managed to keep France’s well-kept secret in La Paillade for another year, building the upcoming season around her, who knows how long they can keep the prodigy? After she flies back from the U20 World Cup, Rouquet will have to keep the magic alive to help Montpellier fly higher. And we witnessed a glimpse of that during the pre-season when she netted a stunning equaliser against Barça. Aurélie Reynders (Paris FC) The heir to the throne Is Belgium in search of a new queen? Legend Tessa Wullaert cannot be leading the Red Flames forever. Her looming retirement will leave a void that Aurélie Reynders might be expected to fill. Beating English and German clubs, Paris FC convinced the OH Leuven playmaker to join this summer, agreeing a four-year deal. Reynders was key to both the Belgian champions’ heroic European campaign last year and its second national title. Needless to say, she made a name for herself, bagging nine goals in the Lotto Super League and picking up both the Best Player and Young Player of the Season awards. Embed from Getty Images Reynders does not look like a prospect for the future, but already a difference-maker in the final third, either from a central position or by cutting inside from the wing, as she did against Arsenal in the UWCL play-offs. With six caps already to her name, the 19-year-old is not only raising hopes for Belgium’s next generation but also has another chance to shine on both the domestic and European stages with Paris FC. Anaïs Ebayilin (Paris Saint-Germain) The anchor Mark the name. Anaïs Ebayilin is the latest PSG academy wonderkid. In recent years, the French contenders have been producing breakthrough talents for the national team, with Thiniba Samoura already making her mark and Tara Elimbi Gilbert or even Ornella Graziani among those knocking on the door. The ball-winning midfielder has not just been finding her feet. She has quickly established herself as the link between the PSG defence and attack. Her physicality and ability to play out from the back stand out for such a young player. The 18-year-old had already made a name for herself domestically, with her potential catching Laurent Bonadei’s attention. Effortless interceptions, authority in disrupting opposition build-ups… Ebayilin evokes Amandine Henry. Has she really only just arrived at the top level? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anaïs Ebayilin (@anais._6) But earning her first cap with Les Bleues has also brought pressure. In the UWCL qualifiers, she was at fault for Frankfurt’s opener after letting the ball slip away. Since then, Ebayilin tied her future to PSG signing a statement five-year deal. Look out for the game’s most promising young defensive midfielders. Rose Kadzere (Montpellier FC) The wildcard By joining Montpellier in 2024, Rose Kadzere became the first Malawian player to compete in one of Europe’s top five leagues. In her first season with the Héraultaises, she scored on her debut, just eleven minutes after coming on. Instant impact. Last season, Kadzere’s dynamism helped her find space inside and outside the box. A brace against PSG last season hinted at a clutch player. Her composed winning goal against Ghana in the WAFCON quarter-finals confirmed she is in for the big moments. But when you think of Malawi, the Chawinga sisters are the first players who come to mind. Yet they could not have done it all alone in their historic run to the WAFCON final. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rose Kadzere (@rose_kadzere) Kadzere was one of the secret weapons. Against Egypt, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder combined brilliantly with Temwa Chawinga, running with the ball and circling around the Kansas City Current star. A soldier on the pitch. Now back in France, Kadzere can build on Montpellier FC’s renewed ambition, with the independent club looking away from the relegation battle. The future is looking brighter. And alongside Rouquet, fireworks can be expected. Maeline Mendy (Paris FC) The magician When Maeline Mendy gets on the ball, a shiver runs through the stadium. Slaloming past players, she is a maestro in the making. Absolute baller, she thrives under pressure and knows how to take it down a notch. What if France had its very own Lauren James? The Lyon academy graduate first made a name for herself with Les Bleuettes, finishing joint-top scorer at the U17 Euros in 2023 and leading France to the title. More recently, she delivered at the U19 Euros in 2025 alongside Julie Swierot and Justine Rouquet, named Player of the Tournament despite France’s defeat to Spain in the final. After a successful loan spell at Paris FC, the 19-year-old chose to leave Lyon permanently, signing a landmark five-year deal with the capital club. Paris FC sporting director Gaëtane Thiney believes she is ‘one of the greatest European talents of her generation’. A lot has changed since Mendy scored her first professional goal for Lyon against Guingamp in 2023/24, finishing in classic Lauren James fashion with a deadly inside-foot strike from outside the box. Earning her first senior call-up this year, she still has to add consistency to her undeniable talent. Related articles from Her Football Hub: NWSL: 6 standout young players who are making their mark on the 2026/27 season Tereza Romanovskaja: From a Turmantas schoolyard, to UWCL nights and the Lithuania national team Suwen Süper Ligi preview: Can anyone stop champions Fenerbahçe?