Strasbourg Midfielder Agrees to Chelsea Transfer

Chelsea have moved ahead of the summer window by securing an agreement on personal terms with Strasbourg’s 21-year engine Valentín Barco, sources confirm. The Argentine, currently plying his trade in Ligue 1, has signaled his willingness to join the London club once an inter-sister-club arrangement is finalized.

Barco has been one of Strasbourg’s most consistent performers this season, ranking second in French football for fouls won and placing inside the top 7% of midfielders across Europe’s top leagues for progressive passes completed. His versatility allows him to operate both as a midfielder and as a left-back.

The player’s trajectory has taken him from Boca Juniors to Brighton in 2024, but he failed to make an impact at The Ames, starting only three Premier League matches. A move to Strasbourg has seen Barco become a regular, earning two senior caps for Argentina and scoring his first international goal in a 5-0 win over Zambia on March 31.

Chelsea and Strasbourg share ownership under BlueCo, leaving the final transfer details to be ironed out between the sister clubs.