Top News

Chelsea have completed the signing of Argentina international Valentin Barco from sister club Strasbourg on a seven-year contract.

The 22-year-old, who made seven appearances for Brighton, including six in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season, becomes the seventh signing since new manager Xabi Alonso took charge.

A versatile footballer capable of playing in central midfield as well as in his usual left-back role, Barco was part of the Argentina squad that ended as runners-up at the World Cup. He earned his fifth international cap in the 3-1 group-stage victory over Jordan.

He initially joined Strasbourg on loan from Brighton in 2024, before making the move permanent a year later after helping the club qualify for the Conference League.

Overall, he made 53 appearances for the Ligue 1 club.

Barco was involved in a tense exchange with England’s Jude Bellingham immediately after his team’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final win in Atlanta, with Bellingham seeming to clip him around the head. Although he was an unused substitute, the Argentine had earlier run onto the pitch to celebrate after Enzo Fernandez scored the equaliser.

Valentin Barco was involved in a widely shared heated exchange with Jude Bellingham after the World Cup semi-final.

He is expected to link up soon with his new team-mates during their tour of Australia and Hong Kong.

The move continues a busy summer in the transfer market for Chelsea as the club look to reshape the squad under Alonso.

On Saturday, Chelsea confirmed the signing of experienced striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton, after already bringing in Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix and Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

Marco Palestra, Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda have also joined the club.