Chelsea Set To Sign Strasbourg's Emegha In 2026

Chelsea person announced a pre-agreement to motion striker Emanuel Emegha from partner nine Strasbourg successful 2026.

The 22-year-old has decided to enactment astatine nan French Ligue 1 nine - owned, for illustration nan Blues, by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital - for different play earlier moving to westbound London connected a seven-year contract.

Multiple sources opportunity nan Netherlands Under-21s world turned down liking from Champions League and Premier League clubs having agreed move to Stamford Bridge earlier this twelvemonth up of adjacent season.

His incoming move is said to beryllium 1 of nan factors down Chelsea deciding against signing a striker connected transportation deadline day to switch nan injured Liam Delap, who is now expected to beryllium retired for "10 to 12 weeks" according to head Enzo Maresca.

Emegha is Strasbourg's skipper and leads them into their first European run since 2020 done nan Conference League.

He scored 23 goals successful 57 convention appearances and is 1 of nan astir important players astatine nan club, which is led by English head Liam Rosenior.

The move again highlights nan adjacent relationship betwixt Chelsea and Strasbourg aft nan French nine was bought by caller multi-club group BlueCo successful 2023 for £65m.

Defender Ben Chilwell's move to Strasbourg connected transportation deadline time was nan sixth betwixt nan clubs complete nan summer.

Young prospects Mike Penders and Kendry Paez joined Chelsea this summertime and moved to nan Ligue 1 nine connected loan. Mamadou Sarr joined Chelsea successful a imperishable £11.8m transportation from Strasbourg, earlier returning to nan French nine connected indebtedness pursuing nan Club World Cup.

In summation to nan 3 loanees, Strasbourg signed Chelsea academy defender Ishe Samuels-Smith for £6.5m and midfielder Mathis Amougou for astir £12m.

However, it was announced connected Tuesday that Samuels-Smith, 19, had rejoined Chelsea, a period aft going to Strasbourg - but that he would instantly time off Stamford Bridge for a season-long indebtedness astatine Championship broadside Swansea City.

The reasons cited were a bid of events impacting his improvement opportunities, including nan summation of Chilwell and a statement renewal for defender Ismael Doukoure, who had antecedently been stiff retired astatine Strasbourg.

The £6.5m was yet refunded, pinch similarities successful nan lawsuit cited to erstwhile Tyler Dibling rejoined Southampton from Chelsea successful 2022 because of "homesickness".

Fifa's indebtedness rules authorities a nine cannot indebtedness much than 3 players to nan aforesaid nine successful a azygous play truthful only a imperishable woody was imaginable for Chilwell. Chelsea utilized 3 of their six world indebtedness spots pinch Strasbourg.

However, location is nary rule to forestall Chelsea trading players to Strasbourg arsenic agelong arsenic nan interest reflects adjacent marketplace value.

Last summer, Manchester City and Manchester United were allowed to return their places successful European competitions contempt multi-club ownership conflicts pinch Girona and Nice.

That was aft they agreed not to transportation players "permanently aliases connected loan, either straight aliases indirectly from July 2024 to September 2025".

That statement has now ended pursuing nan closure of nan window.