Chelsea sign Argentine Valentin Barco from Strasbourg

Chelsea Football Club announced the signing of Argentine international Valentin Barco on a seven-year contract on Sunday, August 2, 2026. The versatile 22-year-old joins from French club Strasbourg, a sister club under the same BlueCo ownership group, as the seventh new arrival of a busy summer transfer window under new head coach Xabi Alonso.

Barco, who can operate at left-back or in central midfield, returns to the Premier League after a previous stint with Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2023-24 season. He initially moved to Strasbourg on loan from Brighton in 2024 before making the transfer permanent a year later. At Strasbourg, he made 53 appearances and helped the club qualify for the UEFA Conference League.

The player gained significant international attention last month due to his involvement in a post-match incident following Argentina's 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta. Although an unused substitute for that match, Barco ran onto the pitch to celebrate after his team's late equalizing goal, with footage showing him celebrating enthusiastically in front of England players. After the final whistle, England midfielder Jude Bellingham was...