On the sidelines of the French women’s football trophies, the FFF revealed on Monday the new identity of its championships within the new professional league. Exit the D1 Arkema, which changes its name to become the Arkema Premier League.
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The professionalization of French women’s football is accelerating. From the Dauphine Pavilion in Paris, the president of the FFF Philippe Diallo and his vice-president, Jean-Michel Aulas, officially presented the new Women’s Professional Football League (LFFP), Monday April 29, unveiling the new identity of the D1 Arkema and the women’s D2.
The objective? “Make France the best European professional women’s football league”while France has lost its lead over its foreign counterparts like England, which has benefited from professionalism since 2018.
If its entry into force will not take place until July 1, the LFFP must “support the professionalization of players, contribute to the support and structuring of clubs” in order to record significant progress by 2028. For the 2024-2025 season, the League’s budget will be 10 million euros (compared to 7.5 million this year), with 50 to 70 million euros allocated to the structuring of clubs over five years.
By 2028, the Federation also intends to double its number of licensees to reach the symbolic threshold of 500,000 (250,712 in total at the end of the season). “A very ambitious figure but achievable given current progress”according to Philippe Diallo.
A vice-president to support Jean-Michel Aulas at the head of the LFFP
Unsurprisingly, Jean-Michel Aulas will chair this League, continuing his commitment to women’s football with Lyon. The 75-year-old leader was unanimously appointed last Thursday by the FFF Executive Committee. He will be supported by several people dedicated 100% to the LFFP, including Paul-Hervé Douillard who will be his director after having been responsible for the Federation’s federal performance project.
“In governance, I will be led to propose a name for the vice-presidency alongside Jean-Michel Aulas and it will be a woman. We will ensure a form of parity at the head of this professional League”, specified Philippe Diallo on beIN Sports on Sunday. The candidacy of this number 2 “will be subject to validation following the Federal Assembly this summer”adds the 3F.
The D1 becomes the Arkema Premier League
The era of the Arkema D1 and the women’s D2 is over. The formations of the professional divisions will now evolve into “Arkema Première Ligue” and “Second Ligue”. Obviously reminiscent of the English equivalent of the Women’s Super League, which has become a real international brand. The model to follow.
“We had to be innovative. We wanted to take the dimension of women’s football on a European and global level. In the logo, there is a modern use in the writing and a crown which recalls the top of the trophy”specified Jean-Michel Aulas. “It’s great, we have a positive structure for the clubs, the players and the Federation. Through this League, many other partners will also find something that suits them”greeted Paris FC player Gaëtane Thiney.
14 clubs in the first division from the 2026-2027 season
When he invited the presidents of the D1 and D2 clubs to discuss the LFFP project in February, Jean-Michel Aulas raised the possibility of expanding the French championship from 12 to 14 teams. It is now confirmed: two additional clubs will join the Arkema Premier League from the 2026-2027 season. The only unknown: how will these training courses be chosen? “I would like to have all the major French men’s clubs in this D1. Preferably on merit but integrating a club directly into the first division, that doesn’t shock me”explained the former OL boss.
A way of indicating that he wanted to see historic standards such as Marseille, Lens (still in D2), Lille or Bordeaux (relegated from D1), increase interest in this new formula. Furthermore, clubs will soon be given the opportunity to recruit a 4th extra-community player to “respond to competition from foreign championships”.
The championship schedule will be secure for European clubs in order to ensure rest time for them before Champions League matches.
The emphasis on the professionalization of D2
With now more than 200 players under full-time contract (i.e. 33% more in one year), a 25% increase in TV audiences since 2022-2023 and attendance up more than 70% in two seasons, the Federation is congratulate the “effects already visible” on the D1 after the first measures taken within the framework of the LFFP.
On the issue of women’s training centers, Lille, Le Havre and Dijon have submitted a file to open a structure next season, joining the six other clubs having already received approval (OL, PSG, PFC, Montpellier, Fleury and Bordeaux). The Professional League must now tackle improving the conditions of D2.
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This must involve the creation of a specific club license – the idea for clubs is to meet professional criteria in order to benefit from a financial grant in exchange – to provide “technical and medical supervision” and infrastructure at the different stables. But also by the increase from eight to eleven minimum contracts per D2 club from 2024-2025.
“With all these assets, it can make women’s football even better. [La D2], it’s not the level of the French team, that’s for sure. But we have to make up for that, with training centers and staff of the same quality as men’s football.”estimated the Bleues coach Hervé Renard, who closely follows the leader of D2, Strasbourg, coached by his former player Vincent Nogueira.
A collective agreement for players still under discussion
In March, an employer recommendation was adopted by the D1 and D2 clubs to guarantee “maintenance of remuneration, without conditions of seniority or waiting day, when a player is on sick leave or on maternity leave”, as announced by the Foot Unis and U2C2F unions. But the climate of professionalization induced by the LFFP should allow players to obtain other provisions from the clubs, via the establishment of a new collective agreement between them.
“We have worked a lot with the unions. This agreement will be operational on July 1, it will be a very avant-garde agreement. It will not allow the female players to earn as much as the boys but there will be significant progress”assured “JMA” in the mixed zone.
In other words, no more career paths with the need for female footballers to work on the side to meet their needs: D1 actresses should at least earn the minimum wage. However, the negotiations between the clubs and the players around this collective agreement have not yet been finalized. Last month, two sticking points persisted: the players’ image rights and the management of retirement-related problems.