Chelsea are set to move for valentin barco, with talks under way for the Strasbourg midfielder and a final agreement still not reached. The 21-year-old has emerged as one of Strasbourg’s standout performers this season, and a move back to the Premier League now looks close. Bayern Munich were also interested, but the latest expectation is that valentin barco will head to Chelsea in June.
Chelsea push ahead in talks
The deal remains in progress, but the direction of travel is clear: Chelsea want valentin barco and the move is being advanced through negotiations involving the two clubs. That process is expected to be more straightforward because Strasbourg and Chelsea are both part of BlueCo ownership.
Barco spent the second half of last season on loan at Strasbourg before the French club agreed a permanent deal with Brighton for €10 million, or £8. 7 million, last summer. He is now on the verge of another switch, this time with Chelsea edging ahead of Bayern Munich in the race.
Why Barco is on Chelsea’s radar
valentin barco has already shown enough at Strasbourg this season to draw fresh attention, and he also fits a profile Chelsea have recently pursued through their wider club network. He came through Boca Juniors’ academy in Argentina before moving to Brighton in 2024 for £7. 8 million.
His progress has continued beyond club football as well. Barco is pushing for a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad and scored his first goal for the national side in a 5-0 friendly win against Zambia on Wednesday.
Immediate reaction and wider picture
One report from Argentina indicated that Bayern Munich were interested in a deal for valentin barco, but the midfielder is now expected to join Chelsea in June. Another notable detail is that Barco has already played under Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior during their time together at Strasbourg, giving the prospective move an added layer of familiarity.
Chelsea have also already agreed a deal to sign Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha, who is set to move to Stamford Bridge this summer. That adds to the sense that Chelsea’s link with Strasbourg is becoming a major transfer route.
What happens next
The key question now is timing. Chelsea are still in talks, and the final agreement has not yet been completed, so the move is not done until the paperwork is signed. Still, with Bayern Munich no longer seen as the front-runners and valentin barco set for June, Chelsea appear to be closing in on another significant addition from Strasbourg.
