Some signings are about right now.
A player ready to walk in and make a difference from day one.
However, some take time, ideally for the future.
This is the latter.
Chelsea confirm agreement to sign Valentin Barco from Strasbourg on six-year deal
According to L’Equipe, Valentin Barco will join Chelsea from fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg this summer, with an agreement already in place between the clubs.
A six-year contract has already been agreed with the player, as the 21-year-old himself confirmed his exit from the French club via social media on Monday.
“Today I announce my exit from a club that I joined with a lot of hope,” Barco wrote.
“In one and a half years I have had many magnificent moments, notably the most beautiful: the birth of my daughter. Strasbourg will remain a special place for us.”
Barco joined Strasbourg initially on loan from Brighton in January 2025 before making the move permanent last summer for €10 million.
In his only full season at the club, he became one of their most important players.
43 appearances, three goals, nine assists, and a key role in their Conference League run that took them all the way to the semi-finals.
That form earned him a return to the Argentina national team, and a place in their World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament.
His move to Chelsea will be worth at least €20 million, double what Strasbourg paid.
However, there had been doubts about whether the move would happen.
When Liam Rosenior was sacked, the future of a transfer built partly on that personal relationship came into question.
But Xabi Alonso’s arrival as Chelsea’s new manager hasn’t derailed it.
His era at Chelsea is officially underway.
And it’s already making its first moves.
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