Chelsea’s young defender Ishe Samuels-Smith is poised for a new chapter as he heads to France. The 19-year-old is set for a medical with Strasbourg in Austria, where the French club is participating in a behind-closed-doors friendly. A £6.9 million deal, including add-ons, has been struck between the clubs, positioning Samuels-Smith for a five-year contract.
A Promising Talent
Samuels-Smith’s versatility shines as he can adeptly play both left-back and centre-back roles. He recently visited Strasbourg’s training facilities to acclimate himself to his potential new home. The promising defender joined Chelsea from Everton last year, yet has found first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge elusive. Nonetheless, his performances with Chelsea’s youth squads and the England Under-18s and Under-19s have not gone unnoticed.
Chelsea’s Summer Strategy
Chelsea appears focused on selling as they prepare to re-enter the market. Their strategy involves offloading players to free up finances for potential reinforcements. Already, Joao Felix has been transferred to Al-Nassr for £43.7 million, and Samuels-Smith may soon follow. Remarkably, Chelsea stands to make a £3 million profit on Samuels-Smith despite his limited first-team experience. This deft maneuver highlights Chelsea’s strategic acumen in player transactions.
Other Transfer News
In other transfer developments, Aston Villa is reportedly firm on retaining Morgan Rogers. Despite Chelsea’s interest, including an offer involving Nicolas Jackson and Tosin Adarabioyo plus cash, Villa’s former chief scout Mick Brown insists Rogers is not on Unai Emery’s transfer list this summer.
Stay tuned for more updates as Chelsea’s summer reshuffle continues to unfold.