Chelsea seal Enciso deal

BlueCo confirms the signing of Julio Enciso from Brighton as part of a wider cross club development strategy.

Chelsea under BlueCo seals Enciso move after Brighton recruitment spike

BlueCo has agreed to sign Julio Enciso from Brighton and Hove Albion for £13.8m. The 21 year old midfielder is recovering from a knee injury and will join Strasbourg first before moving to Chelsea. The transfer adds Enciso to a growing list of Brighton players and staff recruited since BlueCo took control in 2022. Chelsea has already paid more than £21m in compensation to bring Graham Potter and his staff to London and later appointed Brighton transfer chiefs Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell to senior recruitment roles. The total spending on Brighton linked activity now exceeds £250m.

Enciso spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town, contributing two goals and three assists in 13 games. His progress has been interrupted by a knee surgery in May that is expected to keep him out for several weeks. Brighton hope a fresh environment at Strasbourg will offer him more regular game time when he returns. Strasbourg finished seventh in Ligue 1 and earned a place in the Europa Conference League, adding a European element to the plan.

BlueCo bought Strasbourg in 2023 as part of a multi club strategy designed to develop players for Chelsea. The side is led by Liam Rosenior and started the domestic campaign with a win at Metz, signaling a push toward greater European competition.

This move shows a clear long term plan rather than a single transfer. By moving players through a network of clubs the owners aim to feed the Chelsea first team with players who have proven themselves in different leagues. That strategy can reduce transfer risk but increases exposure to injury and potential squad imbalances.

The pattern also raises questions about fairness and the balance of power in English football. Fans and rivals will watch whether this is a sustainable model or a sign of growing market dominance. Regulators and investors will assess how this ambition fits financial rules and competitive parity.

Highlights

The market will watch how this strategy unfolds on the pitch and in the balance sheet.