Exclusive: Ishe Samuels-Smith in advanced talks over permanent Chelsea exit
Chelsea defender Ishé Samuels-Smith is in advanced talks over a move to Strasbourg in a permanent deal, sources have told Football Insider.
Samuels-Smith, who joined Chelsea from Everton in 2023, has yet to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea, but he has impressed for the club’s youth sides and for England’s Under-18s and Under-19s.
The highly-rated left-back, who can also play at centre-back, has been in France for talks with Strasbourg officials and to visit the club’s training ground.
Chelsea are in talks with their sister club Strasbourg as part of the The BlueCo ownership group over a deal in the region of £5.1million for 19-year-old Samuels-Smith to make the switch from West London to France.
Samuels-Smith to seal £5.1m Chelsea exit to Strasbourg
Football Insider revealed in July 2022 that Chelsea were plotting a move for Samuels-Smith after he had emerged as a highly-rated star from Everton’s academy at 16-years-old.
He remained on Merseyside for another season until Football Insider again reported a year later in July 2023 that Samuels-Smith was set to sign for Chelsea after passing a medical and agreeing a three-year deal in West London.
The versatile defender officially joined that month, and went on to make 12 Premier League 2 appearances for the Blues’ Under-21 side in his maiden campaign at the club.
He again featured heavily for the Under-21’s last term, with two goals and four assists in 18 PL2 outings, while he also made the bench three times for Enzo Maresca’s senior side, but never made his professional debut.
If he completes the switch he will follow Mathis Amougou, who is also signing for Strasbourg on a permanent deal, with the teenage French midfielder making just two first-team appearances for Chelsea since his January arrival from Saint-Ettiene.
Chelsea green-light Djordje Petrovic’s Bournemouth switch
Chelsea have been very busy in the transfer market so far this summer, and they now look to be focusing on shipping players out after signing the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens in recent weeks.
The Blues have done a lot of business with Strasbourg in recent years, as Samuels-Smith closes in on a move to France, but goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic will not be returning to the Ligue 1 side this summer as he nears a move to another Premier League team.
Football Insider revealed on Wednesday (9 July) that Bournemouth are accelerating their pursuit of Serbian shot-stopper Petrovic, who is free to leave Stamford Bridge after being left out of Maresca’s Club World Cup squad.
The Cherries are one of a number of teams in the race to secure the 25-year-old’s services, and Chelsea have given the green light to Petrovic finding a new club and will sell if their asking price of just over £20m is met this summer.
He would likely be brought in as Bournemouth’s new number one if the move goes through, with Andoni Iraola’s side already having missed out on signing former Blues loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has completed a switch to Arsenal.