Chelsea officially signs Valentin Barco from Strasbourg for €40 million

Published Aug 2, 05:24 PM UTC

Chelsea Football Club has officially announced the signing of 22-year-old Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco from Strasbourg. According to multiple media reports, the transfer fee is approximately €40 million. Barco, who began his career at Boca Juniors and made his professional debut at age 16, moved to Brighton in 2024 before being loaned to Sevilla and Strasbourg. After a breakthrough 2024/25 season where he helped Strasbourg qualify for European competition, he completed a permanent move to the French club. Last season, Barco made 43 appearances across all competitions, contributing to 12 goals. His performances earned him a spot on Argentina's preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, and he has since made five appearances for the national team. He has signed a contract with Chelsea until 2033 and will join head coach Xabi Alonso's squad during pre-season.