Chelsea defender Samuels-Smith set to join Strasbourg
- Published
Chelsea defender Ishe Samuels-Smith has agreed a five-year deal to join Strasbourg.
The 19-year-old is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge and was valued at £6.5m as he moves across to another Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned club in France.
It is the second such permanent deal between the two clubs after midfielder Mathis Amougou moved for a similar sum.
There are also expected to be three loan deals into Strasbourg from Chelsea, with goalkeeper Mike Penders already having joined as new number one.
Defender Mamadou Sarr and midfielder Kendry Paez are also expected to join a club that qualified for the Conference League by finishing seventh in Ligue 1.
The move shows the strength of Chelsea's fledgling multiclub model but may also lead to criticism about the club using it in order to remain compliant with financial rules.
Samuels-Smith never made an appearance for Chelsea's first team in his two-year spell after joining in a £4m deal from Everton in 2023.