Strasbourg Nears £17.3m Deal for Brighton's Julio Enciso
Strasbourg is nearing a £17.3 million transfer for Brighton forward Julio Enciso, with plans for him to join Chelsea after a year in France.
The 21-year-old is expected to finalize contract terms in the coming days, with Brighton including a sell-on clause in the agreement.
This move connects Strasbourg to Chelsea through their ownership by BlueCo, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, marking a significant transfer since the £65.2 million takeover in 2023.
There are strong ties between Chelsea and Strasbourg, the latter being managed by Englishman Liam Rosenior. Goalkeeper Mike Penders, along with players Kendry Paez and Mamadou Sarr, are currently on loan from Stamford Bridge.
In recent seasons, Strasbourg has also acquired several players from Chelsea, including Ishe Samuels-Smith, Mathis Amougou, and Diego Moreira. The club features a number of former Premier League talents, such as ex-Brighton defender Valentin Barco and former Southampton forward Sekou Mara.
Strasbourg qualified for the Conference League last season after finishing seventh in the league.
Meanwhile, Enciso departs Brighton after being excluded from the squad for the opening-day draw against Fulham. He scored five goals for the Seagulls and spent the latter half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town.