Chelsea target Valentín Barco announces Strasbourg exit

Chelsea target Valentín Barco (21) has announced that his time at RC Strasbourg Alsace has come to an end in a post on Instagram.

Barco joined Strasbourg, initially on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion during the winter transfer window of 2025, before then making the move to the Meinau permanent the following summer in a deal worth a reported €10m.

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In his only full season with Le Racing, Barco has become a key part of the club’s midfield, featuring 43 times in all competitions, scoring three and assisting a further nine goals. His form at club level has seen him return to the Argentina national team ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Upon the conclusion of that tournament – should he play a part – Barco will not return to Strasbourg. In a post on social media, he announced his impending exit. “Today, I announce my exit from a club that I joined with a lot of hope. In one-and-a-half years, I have had many magnificent moments, notably the most beautiful: the birth of my daughter […] I will continue to follow the club from afar. We will come back as a family as soon as possible. Strasbourg will remain a special place for us,” he said.

Barco’s contract with Le Racing runs until 2029, but he is now set to join Chelsea, with whom an agreement is close, L’Équipe understands.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle