Birmingham City Women have significantly strengthened their squad with the acquisition of French defender Jade Rastocle from Montpellier. The 22-year-old centre-back joins the Blues for an undisclosed fee, adding further depth and international experience to their defence ahead of their highly anticipated return to the Women's Super League (WSL).
Rastocle arrives at St Andrew's having spent two seasons with Première Ligue side Montpellier, where she made 42 appearances and registered one goal. Her performances in one of Europe's strongest leagues have caught the eye, and she has also represented France at youth international level, having previously played for Reims.
The signing marks a clear statement of intent from Birmingham City, who secured the WSL 2 title last season to end a five-year absence from the top flight. Rastocle expressed her enthusiasm for the move, stating, "I'm very happy to be here. I can see the ambitions of the club, the city and I know it's a historic club. For me it's an unbelievable and very big opportunity to play here."
Blues head coach Amy Merricks commented on her new recruit: "Jade is a young defender with excellent experience for her age. She has shown her quality over several seasons in one of Europe's strongest leagues. We believe she'll fit our style of play really well, and we're looking forward to seeing her continue to develop with us."
Rastocle's arrival follows a busy week for Birmingham's recruitment team, who also secured the signatures of defender Millie Turner and midfielder Lisa Naalsund from Manchester United on Wednesday. These strategic additions highlight the club's commitment to building a competitive squad capable of making an impact in the WSL.