Strasbourg still have Emanuel Emegha on their books, with the striker not set to join Chelsea until 2026.
However, it looks like it took some bargaining from Strasbourg president Marc Keller to keep Emegha at Chelsea‘s sister club for another season.
Keller and Strasbourg will be relieved that the 22-year-old decided to stay for the 2025/26 campaign, as he has once again been one of the team’s best players. In four Ligue 1 games, he has scored two goals and provided two assists.
Emegha had a lot of offers during the summer transfer window, but Keller’s promise convinced him to stay for another year.
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and Strasbourg president Marc Keller watching Strasbourg game
Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Marc Keller promised Emanuel Emegha he could join Chelsea or another club next year
Amid all of the interest in him, Emegha could have made a big fuss and pushed for an exit when the market was still open.
The promise of being allowed to move to Chelsea or another side in 2026, though, seemed to convince the Dutchman to remain at Strasbourg for another season.
On how the Ligue 1 outfit were able to retain Emegha despite all of the interest in him, Keller told The Telegraph: “The only way to keep him was to say, ‘You will go in one year’. He was ready to do that, and to be captain and a big leader for us in Europe.”
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
With Liam Delap out injured, Enzo Maresca would probably love to have Emegha now. However, the Chelsea manager will have to wait until the new year before he can get his hands on him.
As a result of Emegha’s impending move to Stamford Bridge, Nicolas Jackson’s time at Chelsea is over, according to the reliable Fabrizio Romano.
Emanuel Emegha reacts during Strasbourg vs Marseille
Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Chelsea’s plans for Emanuel Emegha
Chelsea signing both Delap and Joao Pedro was the driving force behind Jackson’s exit. It relegated the Senegal international to third-choice striker at Stamford Bridge.
It is a role that Emegha could have at Chelsea in the 2026/27 season. It is thought that Emegha will remain at Chelsea next summer, which may not be great for his development.
But if Delap picks up another serious injury, for example, then the Strasbourg star will come in handy.