Day after day, transfer after transfer, the BlueCo group is becoming a true textbook case in terms of timeshare in football.
Since the consortium bought RC Strasbourg in the summer of 2023, a year after acquiring Chelsea, a direct and privileged line has been established between the two clubs.
Latest event to date: the departure of Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior towards Chelsea, a few days after the dismissal of Enzo Maresca. Like the Red Bull group, BlueCo players and coaches circulate and climb the ranks between the entity’s different clubs.
In just under three years, a complete team has taken the Strasbourg-Chelsea line, in one direction or the other (sometimes both): 11 players and a coach. Not to mention the transfer of the star striker from RCSA Emanuel Emeghaalready planned for next season.
The case of the Dutch striker crystallizes all the tensions around this model of multiple ownership in football. On September 12, Chelsea announced the transfer of the player from Strasbourg… in the summer of 2026, a year later. News, coupled with the attitude of the player, which had provoked the ire of Strasbourg supporters.
Andrey Santos, a great example of success
But Emegha is far from being the first. From the 2023-24 season, Chelsea lends two of its hopes to Strasbourg: the Brazilians Angelo et Andrey Santos. The second, who found a place in the Chelsea squad after a very successful 18-month loan, is undoubtedly the greatest success of this system. The first was sold to Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) by Chelsea in September 2024.
The practice is far from new. Many big clubs have or have had “satellite clubs”, to which they sent their promising youngsters over and over again to gain experience. Before BlueCo, Chelsea was one of the leaders in this practice, loaning or selling dozens of players to Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem over the years.
Three other players took this circuit during the 2024-25 season: Caleb Wileyarrived on loan in the summer and left six months later after six matches played; Djordje PetrovicRCSA goalkeeper that Chelsea immediately sold, for a profit, in the summer of 2025 to Bournemouth (€29 million); and finally Diego Moreirapurchased by Strasbourg for €8.5 million.
A player bought by Strasbourg… then taken over by Chelsea this summer
The summer of 2025 marks an intensification of exchanges: six players join Strasbourg and Ligue 1 from Chelsea. One of them is a textbook case: the young Ishé Samuels-Smith. Arriving at the end of July in Strasbourg for €7.5 million, the young full-back left Alsace… 34 days later, after two friendly matches. His transfer was cancelled, the player returned to Chelsea and was subsequently loaned to Swansea. At the time, Strasbourg cited a casting error.
Another emblematic case the same summer: Mamadou Sarrtransferred for 14 million euros from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer then loaned immediately to Strasbourg. Two other players were loaned by the Blues this summer: Kendy Páez et Mike Penders. The experienced Ben Chilwellhe joined Alsace for free at the end of the transfer window, and the young Mathis Amougou was bought by Strasbourg from Chelsea for almost 15 million euros.
Enciso, Barco, Zongo… bought by Strasbourg to better supply Chelsea?
There remains a particular case, beyond that of Emanuel Emegha: that of Julio Enciso. Bought for 10 million euros by Strasbourg, the young Paraguayan midfielder from Brighton already knows, like the Dutchman, that his future should be written at Chelsea.
When he announced his transfer, transfer window journalist Fabrizio Romano did not say that Enciso was joining Strasbourg, but… “The BlueCo group”. His former teammate Valentin Barcowho joined Strasbourg this summer, is also a long-time Chelsea prospect and could, in the future, meet the same fate.
More recently, the RCSA completed the arrival of another Chelsea target, the young Burkinabé Mohamed Zongo (16 years old). He will join the Alsatian club in 2028. Or, as he said on Instagram, “the BlueCo project”.
