Valentin Barco looks set to return to the Premier League ahead of next season. Chelsea are closing in on the signature of the Argentine international, who plays for their sister club RC Strasbourg in France.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are on the verge of securing Barco’s services, as he has given the green light to the move. The 21-year-old has agreed personal terms with the London outfit. The youngster wants to move to Chelsea, and they seem to be in complete control of his future.
Barco came up the ranks at Boca Juniors. After making a name for himself while playing for their first team, he made the move to Brighton at the start of 2024. While the move to Seagulls, as well as the loan spell at Sevilla, didn’t go according to plan, the BlueCo continued to monitor him.
They acquired his services via Strasbourg at the start of 2025. While it was an initial loan deal, the Ligue 1 outfit made it permanent in the following summer. The 21-year-old has taken his game to the next level since joining the French outfit.
He has been a constant feature in their XI. In the ongoing campaign, he has 38 appearances and 11 goal contributions. While he prefers playing as a central midfielder, he has featured anywhere in midfield as well as a full-back when needed.
Barco has the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, and his performances have impressed the key decision-makers at BlueCo. When they acquired his services back in 2025, they had a clear roadmap for him to eventually make the jump to Chelsea.
Thanks to his rapid rise, they are now looking to make that move happen this summer. Chelsea are keen to have him in their ranks, and Liam Rosenior, who has already worked with him, believes the 21-year-old is ready for an important role at the London club.
The player is also keen on a move to Stamford Bridge. He has agreed personal terms, and it is now up to Chelsea to decide when to proceed. They have full control over the situation, as the player is owned by their sister club.
