Chelsea were busy on transfer deadline day, but one deal that went under the radar could prove pivotal in the years to come if he follows in the footsteps of top stars
16:55, 06 Sep 2025
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The morning after a wild end to the transfer window that saw Chelsea finalise the loan of Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich, with an obligation to buy, saw a move take place under the radar.
There was no transfer alert from Chelsea's Fifth Stand app, just a news story that left those who noticed it puzzled. Ishe Samuels-Smith had been transferred to Swansea City for the rest of the season. On the surface, it seemed like a straightforward move, but just over a month earlier, Chelsea had sold Samuels-Smith to RC Strasbourg.
The fellow BlueCo-owned club had acquired the promising defender for £6million. However, a series of events led to a change in his journey, although his end goal for the transfer window at Stamford Bridge remained the same.
Football London has learned that Samuels-Smith struggled to settle in France. Coupled with Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior's assessment of other squad options and Ben Chilwell's late arrival, a return to the books was arranged.
Despite this, Samuels-Smith still ended up in Wales, with an opportunity to play in the Championship. As a versatile left-sided centre-back/left-back, he is highly regarded and received his first call-up for England's Under-20s during the break.
Ishe Samuels-Smith previously swapped Everton for Chelsea
Ishe Samuels-Smith previously swapped Everton for Chelsea(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
He has consistently represented his country at various age levels, a journey that began at Everton. Earlier this year, Chelsea secured him on a long-term contract, indicating their high hopes for him.
He is now making his debut in senior football and has landed at a familiar destination for Chelsea. The club has fostered strong ties with numerous teams over the years, but their connection with Swansea seems to have endured despite changes in ownership.
While the link to Strasbourg is clear, relationships within the EFL and beyond are often more nuanced. Not every club is as closely tied to Roman Abramovich's Chelsea as Vitesse Arnhem, but Swansea has been a nurturing ground for many players.
Charlton Athletic have similarly played host to Chelsea talents - notably Ian Maatsen and Conor Gallagher - while Burnley currently holds that role. The Swansea pipeline may have dried up in recent years, but it's worth noting the wealth of talent it has produced.
Marc Guehi in his days at Swansea City
Marc Guehi in his days at Swansea City
Most recently, Chelsea loaned Marc Guehi to Swansea for 18 months. Initially as a January transfer in 2020, followed by a full season stint. Guehi made 59 appearances and established himself as a versatile centre-back, capable of playing in the middle, right, or left.
Guehi had made his Chelsea debut just prior to this. Frank Lampard gave him, along with several other young players, a chance during a League Cup victory over Grimsby Town. Guehi started and completed that match, and also played the full 90 minutes in the subsequent round, a 2-1 loss to Manchester United.
Even as a teenager, he was noted for his ambidextrous passing ability and commanding presence. As a captain of his teams in the Cobham academy, Guehi's potential was coming to fruition.
Upon his return to Chelsea in 2021, he was ready for a new challenge and chose to move to Crystal Palace for approximately £20million. Since then, he has thrived and lived up to expectations. Guehi is now the captain at Selhurst Park, a regular in the England senior squad, and has attracted significant interest from Liverpool.
Chelsea themselves have contemplated re-signing him on several occasions since his departure. His loan spell at Swansea played a crucial role in his development.
The same can be said for Gallagher, who left Charlton after six months to climb to the top of the Championship. He had an impressive start at the Valley and quickly became an integral part of a team vying for promotion.
Despite the mid-season upheaval, Gallagher started 19 consecutive league games as well as two play-off semi-finals, only for Swansea to fall short.
He made a name for himself as a dynamic and influential midfielder. Although his subsequent loan at West Brom didn't go as planned, Gallagher still managed to make 32 appearances in his first Premier League season before Palace gave him another opportunity.
He is now a player of Champions League calibre with Atletico Madrid and a member of the England squad. Another success story from Swansea.
Gallagher's Cobham team-mate, Tammy Abraham, can attest to the same. Transitioning from a Championship goal machine (with 23 goals in 41 appearances as a 19 year old) to a Premier League No. 9 was challenging, but he still climbed the ranks.
Conor Gallagher at Swansea City
Conor Gallagher at Swansea City
Abraham found it tough being the main striker for a club fighting relegation, yet managed to score five goals from 1,700 league minutes.
He returned to the Championship, netted 25 goals, and then went back to Chelsea where he remains the only striker since Diego Costa to score 15 open-play league goals in a single season. His time at Swansea served more as a learning experience than a springboard, but it was nonetheless a valuable lesson.
There are other examples too. Paul Clement, Carlo Ancelotti's long-term assistant, had a stint as manager at Swansea. Despite a disappointing spell in charge, he continues to enjoy a successful coaching career.
Going further back, young midfielder Josh McEachran - whose brother George was part of the Grimsby side that beat United in the Carabao Cup last month, in a slightly eerie and amusing twist - also spent some time at Swansea in 2012. Chelsea may well find encouragement from these external experiences.
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Viktor Gyokeres is another case in point. He spent a year on loan at Swansea in the Championship without much to celebrate.
However, he followed this with an Abraham-like resurgence and has been prolific ever since - shining for Coventry City, Sporting Lisbon and now spearheading Arsenal's attempts to finally win another Premier League title.
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Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White also had a less than stellar loan spell at Swansea. If Samuels-Smith doesn't excel at Swansea, it's more about signs than any grand scheme.
However, the indications are positive. Success at Swansea can pave the way for further opportunities, and as shown by Gibbs-White and Gyokeres, even if things don't go as planned, it's far from being a career-ending situation.