Chelsea
Chelsea have been working on signing young talents from across in recent years.
The Premier League side’s strategy has been ongoing since BlueCo, their current owners, took over at Stamford Bridge in 2022.
Last year, Chelsea paid over Sporting €70m for Geovany Quenda and Dário Essugo, and the former will arrive at the west London club after this season.
Quenda underwent treatment in London after a fractured fifth metatarsal in December. He has returned to Sporting, pushing for minutes in the final stage of the season as part of Chelsea’s long-term plan.
The Club World Cup winners have also lost out on some youngsters to other clubs. In the winter market, the Blues and Tottenham Hotspur lost Sani Suleiman to RB Leipzig.
Back in January, Sport Witness relayed news how the German club beat the two English clubs in the transfer race. He isn’t the only one.
Chelsea lost to Saint-Étienne
We now focus on one such young talent from Cameroon, David Mimbang. Actu Cameroun have a report on Chelsea, RC Strasbourg and AS Saint-Étienne’s interest in the 17-year-old, who currently represents Ecole de Football Brasseries du Cameroun [EFBC].
The outlet say David Mimbang is a Cameroonian prodigy, ‘highly sought after’ in Europe. This includes Liam Rosenior’s side, Strasbourg, another club owned by BlueCo and other clubs. These clubs will miss out on the midfielder to the Ligue 2 side.
But! Football Club also have report on Chelsea and the two French clubs’ interest in the teenager.
The outlet points out EFBC president Jacques Elimbi confirms Mimbang’s transfer to the lower division French side, without relaying his quotes.
He has attracted interest from Chelsea and Strasbourg, but these two clubs will miss out on him. That’s because the Cameroon U17 international will move to Saint-Étienne.
But! Football Club report Mimbang is expected to arrive in France on Monday to carry out the transfer formalities.
Why Saint-Étienne must wait
Although the deal seems to be at an advances stage, David Mimban won’t be able to play for Saint-Étienne straight away.
That’s because he has to wait until 18 years of age in August to be eligible to sign for a European club.