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Chelsea are set to complete a ‘£34m’ deal for ex-Brighton player Valentin Barco.
The Argentina international spent last season with Strasbourg in Ligue1 and will team up with Xabi Alonso's Chelsea this summer.
Barco, 21, joined Brighton in 2024 for around £8m from Boca Juniors. He made just seven first team appearances for the Seagulls before an unsuccessful loan at Sevilla.
He kick-started his career during a loan at Strasbourg and the French club made the move permanent in a £10m deal.
Brighton sell-on fee
Brighton also included a reported 10 per cent sell-on fee for Barco, which means they stand to bank just over £3m from the £30m-plus transfer from Strasbourg to Chelsea.
Strasbourg are a sister club of Chelsea and the possibility was always there for Barco to move to Stamford Bridge, if he performed well in France.
Barco's move will though come with a bit of controversy after his antics during the World Cup.
The former Brighton man was an unused substitute during England's 2-1 semi-final defeat.
Barco is a World Cup wind-up
Barco came running on to the pitch after Enzo Fernandez's leveller and was yelling at the England defenders as he ran past. He received a firm shove from John Stones for his troubles.
Then after the match, Barco then had a altercation with Jude Bellingham as the England midfielder slapped him around the back of the head.
It prompted a minor melee before tempers cooled and the players retreated.
Fans will though remember and Barco will likely receive a hostile reception at Brighton's Amex Stadium and around Premier League once his season gets underway at Chelsea.
Chelsea deal agreed
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reposted, a previous statement from June: "Chelsea agree deal to sign Valentín Barco, here we go!
"Agreement in place with the player as RC Strasbourg will let Barco go after impressive improvement this year.
"#CFC ready to proceed for the Argentinian midfielder."
Barco bids farewell
Chelsea are yet to confirm the deal but Barco has already bid his farewells to Strasbourg.
In a statement on social media, Barco said: "Today I say goodbye to this club. I always gave everything on the pitch in every game for this shirt.
"I want to thank my team-mates, who made everything easier for me; Liam Rosenior and his staff for the confidence they showed in me and for helping shape me as a player; Gary O'Neil and his staff for understanding me and helping me improve; everyone at the club who supports us every day; and the fans for the love they always gave me. Thank you, Strasbourg."
Meanwhile, Aston Villa hope to complete the signing of Chelsea man Alejandro Garnacho.