Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has said that there is no hierarchy between the Blues and French club Strasbourg under BlueCo’s multi-club ownership structure. This is despite the fact that there has been more attention on the two clubs’ recent transfer activities during the January window.
On the last day of the transfer window, the Blues called back 20-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from his season-long loan at Strasbourg. At the same time, they sent Argentine center-back Aaron Anselmino to the Ligue 1 team as payment for Sarr’s early departure. David Datro Fofana also signed with Strasbourg on a short-term deal that lasts until the end of the current season.
Sarr’s recall came at a very important time because he had just helped Senegal win the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations. He started the final against Morocco in place of the injured captain Kalidou Koulibaly. Sarr played 18 times for Strasbourg on loan this season, starting 15 times in Ligue 1. He became a key part of the French team’s defense before Rosenior asked him to join the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
Rosenior sought to dispel rumors of an unfair power dynamic between the two BlueCo-owned institutions that have upset some Strasbourg fans. He said:
“This question is not about being a junior partner or a senior partner… Strasbourg is a massive football club with its own identity, with its own culture and its own goals and what the club wants to reach.”
The Chelsea manager said he was still interested in how Strasbourg were doing, even though he moved to West London after Enzo Maresca’s shocking exit on New Year’s Day. Rosenior defended the sister clubs’ working together by saying:
“The idea of this project is that both clubs are very, very successful and I believe that will be the case.”
BlueCo bought Strasbourg in June 2023, about a year after buying Chelsea from Roman Abramovich. This marked the start of their multi-club ownership model, which has since been heavily criticized by fans in France. Since the takeover, 11 players have switched between Chelsea and Strasbourg. This has raised worries about how independent the French club are within the ownership structure.
Strasbourg Are Worried About BlueCo’s Ownership Amid Emmanuel Emegha’s Move To Chelsea
The pre-agreement to bring Strasbourg captain Emmanuel Emegha to Chelsea in the summer of 2026 on a seven-year contract has prompted more discussion about the French club’s place in BlueCo’s multi-club network. Strasbourg fans are upset that their team are losing important players to their English sister club.
The 22-year-old Dutch striker scored 14 goals in Ligue 1 last season, helping Strasbourg qualify for the UEFA Conference League. He became one of the most promising young forwards in French football before agreeing to terms with the Premier League team.
Marc Keller, the president of Strasbourg, said that the transfer was a big problem for the club. He said that losing their captain and top scorer to Chelsea made things even harder for them.