Julio Enciso Signed By Chelsea Owners: Ligue 1 Loan Before Premier League Move

Brighton forward Julio Enciso is joining the BlueCo football group in a €20 million transfer. He will spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Strasbourg before moving to Chelsea.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Julio Enciso, the promising Paraguayan forward, is leaving Brighton after two seasons to join BlueCo, the group that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg. The agreed deal will see Enciso play in France for Strasbourg for one year. A contract has been signed until 2031, with the option to extend until 2032, and Enciso is set for a medical on Thursday.

This transfer, valued at €20 million including add-ons, was finalised after lengthy negotiations with Brighton, who are known for their hard stance in transfer talks.

WHY THIS DEAL IS SPECIAL

This move uses BlueCo’s multi-club ownership model. By sending Enciso to Strasbourg first, Chelsea can bypass FIFA’s loan limits and allow the player to gain European experience before adapting to the pressure at Stamford Bridge.

Enciso stood out with Brighton, playing 27 matches, scoring four goals, and providing three assists in the 2024/25 season, contributing to Brighton’s mid-table Premier League finish. According to reports, Chelsea finished 4th in the Premier League last season.

Strasbourg finished 7th in Ligue 1 last season, and have qualified for the Conference League. Chelsea, meanwhile, ended fourth in the Premier League and continue to focus on signing high-potential young players, aiming to climb into the top four next season.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Enciso will look to make an instant impact under Strasbourg’s guidance. Their next Ligue 1 match is against nantes, who lost to PSG tjeir league opener. Strasbourg won their opener with a 1-0 visit to Metz, and will be facing Brondby today for the 1st leg of the Conference League playoffs. The team hopes to improve on their 7th-place result and qualify for the Conference League group stages.

Chelsea are monitoring Enciso’s progress, seeing him as a future key part of their attack. When the forward completes his development year in France, he will aim to break into a Chelsea squad eager for Champions League qualification and greater silverware success.

The club’s immediate next fixture is a Premier League match against West Ham United, who finished fourteenth last season, and lost their league opener to Sunderland.