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Emmanuel Emegha has spoken out for the first time since the 22-year-old was suspended by BlueCo-owned Strasbourg over misconduct.

football.london understands that Emegha’s suspension relates to comments made by the striker in which he apparently thought Strasbourg was in Germany before signing. The club is, of course, based in the city of Strasbourg in the northeast of France.

Those comments are said to have gone down poorly internally. The club subsequently suspended Emegha for their clash with Toulouse this Saturday. Strasbourg released their own statement on the matter, and now the future Chelsea player has broken his silence.

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He shared a statement on Instagram that read: “I accept and understand the club’s decision to suspend me for this weekend.

“I’m 22 years old. I’ve made mistakes, and I know I still have a lot to learn. And I have to learn from this. I know I need to do better, and I will do better, on the pitch and off it, to represent the club. That’s important to me.

“I want to make it clear that I never intended to hurt anyone. Since I arrived here at 19, I have always given everything for Strasbourg. I’m proud to play for Racing and I’m proud to wear the captain’s armband.

“Everyone knows it wasn’t easy for me here at the start. It was a big challenge for me to succeed in Strasbourg. But I kept working hard every day to get there.

“Last weekend, when I stepped onto the pitch, it was the biggest emotion I’ve ever felt as a Strasbourg player. The applause when I came on, the kids cheering me during the warm-up… it truly moved me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“I had a long conversation with President Marc Keller. We spoke honestly. I thank him for his advice. He knows how much I love this club and how hard I work every day. I also want to thank all my teammates and the staff, coach Liam Rosenior, sporting director David Weir, and everyone around the team. They see me every day, they know who I am and how I work.

“Sometimes my words can be misunderstood, especially if you don’t know me. But one thing is certain; I have the utmost respect for Strasbourg, for Alsace, for La Meinau, for our supporters, for my teammates, and for the entire club.

“On Saturday, I’ll be behind the team like a supporter at 200%.”

The club’s statement read: “This decision was taken following the player’s recent failure to respect the club’s values, expectations and rules.

“Racing reaffirms its commitment to the essential principles of exemplary conduct and respect for the collective framework. Emmanuel remains an important member of our team, who has always given his all for the club on the pitch.

“He will be reintegrated into the squad after this match. No further comments will be made.”

Emegha will join Chelsea in the summer of 2026 in a deal confirmed in September this year. Many Strasbourg fans have voiced frustration with BlueCo, feeling their club is being treated as a feeder side for Chelsea.