Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Valentin Barco from Strasbourg, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. The Argentina international announced his departure from the Ligue 1 club earlier this week, with a move to Stamford Bridge widely anticipated given the clubs’ shared ownership under BlueCo.
The 21-year-old Barco has impressed in recent seasons after being converted from a left-back to a midfielder by former Racing Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, who had previously attempted to bring the player to Chelsea. While Rosenior was later sacked in April, his assessment of Barco’s potential has clearly resonated with the Blues.
Romano reports that an undisclosed deal is now in place between Chelsea, Strasbourg, and Barco himself, with the transfer set to be formalised next month. Barco is currently awaiting potential inclusion in Argentina’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Barco’s departure is part of a wider expected exodus from Strasbourg following a disappointing end to the Ligue 1 season which saw them miss out on European qualification. According to L'Equipe, several other key players are seeking moves away from the club, including captain Emmanuel Emegha, who already agreed to join Chelsea last year. Former Chelsea winger Diego Moreira, Guela Doue, and Ismael Doukoure are also expected to leave.
Strasbourg are reportedly looking to adjust their transfer strategy, seeking to add more physicality and experience to their squad alongside young talent. The future of current manager Gary O’Neil is also uncertain, with reports suggesting former Chelsea player Filipe Luis is a candidate to replace him, having previously engaged in discussions with BlueCo before renewing his contract with Flamengo. The addition of Barco and Emegha signifies Chelsea’s growing influence over their sister club and potentially provides a pipeline for future talent.
