Several Chelsea stars loaned to Strasbourg in strategic move

Bente Baekers

Several Chelsea stars loaned to Strasbourg in strategic move image

Chelsea have finalised a five-player transfer package with Strasbourg, headlined by the season-long loan of French defender Mamadou Sarr.

The 18-year-old returns to France just weeks after joining Chelsea from Lyon, continuing his development under Patrick Vieira in Ligue 1.

Sarr, who featured in Chelsea’s Club World Cup win last month, including the semi-final against ES Tunis, has been earmarked for long-term progression.

His loan to Strasbourg is part of the clubs’ growing cooperation under the BlueCo multi-club model.

Alongside Sarr, Ecuadorian playmaker Kendry Paez and Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders have also joined Strasbourg on loan.

Meanwhile, two players—Mathis Amougou and Ishé Samuels-Smith—have made permanent moves.

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Amougou, a promising French youth international who joined Chelsea in January, signs a five-year deal, with Chelsea reportedly inserting a buy-back clause. Samuels-Smith, a former Everton prospect, joins in a £6.5 million deal.

The transfers reflect Chelsea’s calculated approach to youth development and squad management, using the BlueCo structure to place young talent in high-level environments.

Strasbourg officials are said to have laid the groundwork for the moves during the Club World Cup in the US.

For Strasbourg, the influx of young prospects could provide a critical boost in their fight to stabilise in Ligue 1. For Chelsea, it’s another sign of how seriously they’re investing in long-term player pathways.

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Bente Baekers

Bente Baekers is a journalist, content editor and professional field hockey player currently based in Australia. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has written for Business News in Perth and works as a content editor at LeadStory. Bente brings a unique blend of firsthand athletic experience with sharp editorial skills to her writing. She also runs ScholarShipped, helping Australian female athletes earn scholarships to play college sports in the U.S.