In the world of football transfers, surprises are common—but what happened between Chelsea and their sister club Strasbourg left many fans scratching their heads.
Just weeks after a young player was sent to France, the deal was completely reversed, and he found himself back in London.
The BlueCo Ownership Web
Since 2022, Chelsea has been under the control of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital through the BlueCo Consortium.
A year later, they added French side Strasbourg to their multi-club network.
While the partnership was supposed to open doors for talent development, it hasn’t been smooth sailing.
Strasbourg, despite finishing seventh in Ligue 1 last season and earning a spot in the UEFA Conference League, has seen fans criticize the arrangement.
Many believe the deal heavily benefits Chelsea at Strasbourg’s expense.
The Player Carousel Between Clubs
This summer has been busy with players moving back and forth between the two BlueCo outfits.
Ben Chilwell, Chelsea’s Champions League-winning defender, was sent on loan to Strasbourg, joining summer arrivals Mamadou Sarr, goalkeeper Mike Penders, Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez, and permanent signing Mathias Amougou.
But one move didn’t stick. Nineteen-year-old Ishe Samuels-Smith, who joined Strasbourg in July, was suddenly pulled back to Chelsea after just 34 days.
Samuels-Smith’s Sudden U-Turn
The young left-back had already been part of Strasbourg’s squad for their Conference League qualifier against Brondby and their Ligue 1 opener versus Metz.
But on transfer deadline day, his permanent deal in France was canceled.
Instead, he re-signed for Chelsea and was immediately loaned out to Swansea City.
The decision may have been influenced by France’s stricter rules on loan deals.
By returning to Chelsea, Samuels-Smith was free to secure valuable Championship experience.
Plus, with Chilwell arriving at Strasbourg and occupying the same position, his chances of regular minutes in France likely dropped.
A Pattern of Unusual Deals
This isn’t the first time BlueCo’s transfer dealings have raised questions.
Earlier this window, Paraguayan striker Julio Enciso signed for Strasbourg from Brighton, but insiders suggest Chelsea may view him as a long-term prospect for London if he performs well in France.
Other players have taken similar paths. Andrey Santos impressed in Strasbourg before being considered for Chelsea’s first team, while Djordje Petrovic made the leap from the consortium setup to a Premier League move with Bournemouth.
Fan Backlash Over Multi-Club Model
The concept of multi-club ownership has been under fire across Europe.
Chelsea and BlueCo have drawn particular criticism after Crystal Palace were penalized by UEFA due to their connection with Lyon, forcing them into the Conference League.
Strasbourg’s late-season slip in Ligue 1 also triggered conspiracy theories.
After a stunning victory against Paris Saint-Germain, they lost back-to-back matches to Angers and Le Havre—results that knocked them out of Champions League contention.
Conspiracy Theories Fuel Debate
On social media, fans were quick to accuse Strasbourg of deliberately losing to help Chelsea.
One wrote: “Strasbourg conveniently lose two games to weak opposition to allow Chelsea entrance to the Champions League. Not dodgy at all.”
Another added: “Needs investigation. They went 12 games unbeaten, then suddenly lose the last two. Really convenient.”
A third fumed: “After beating PSG, they lose to relegation fodder? Chelsea have a special place in hell.”
If Strasbourg had stayed in the Champions League race, Aston Villa could have taken Chelsea’s place in Europe’s top competition.
Instead, Chelsea remained in the draw while Palace and Nottingham Forest were reshuffled into the Conference League.
What Happens Next?
For now, Chelsea’s odd recall of Samuels-Smith might simply be about player development.
But with repeated controversies, fan distrust, and ongoing criticism of multi-club ownership, the bigger question lingers: how long before UEFA or other football authorities step in to scrutinize BlueCo’s influence on the European game?