Chelsea have finally confirmed the arrival of Argentina international Valentin Barco from sister club Strasbourg on a deal until the summer of 2033
Chelsea have signed Valentin Barco
Chelsea have signed Valentin Barco (Image: Getty Images)
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Chelsea have announced the signing of Valentin Barco from Strasbourg for an undisclosed fee.
The 22-year-old has penned a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge and becomes the club's ninth arrival of the transfer window. Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Denner, Danny Welbeck and Dastan Satpaev are the others that have joined the Blues this summer.
Barco is expected to team up with Xabi Alonso's squad later in pre-season following Argentina's run to the World Cup final last month. Despite being part of Lionel Scaloni's side at the North America tournament, he played just 19 minutes, coming on as second-half substitute in a group stage win against Jordan.
He was infamously involved in an altercation with England midfielder Jude Bellingham during his side's semi-final win against the Three Lions. Barco clashed with Bellingham, 23, after running on to the pitch to celebrate his now Chelsea teammate Enzo Fernandez's equaliser at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Fernandez is one of a number of players Barco will be familiar with when he joins his new Chelsea teammates.
Barco joined Strasbourg after a disappointing spell at Brighton. After arriving at the Ligue 1 side as a left-back, he was converted into a central midfielder by former manager Liam Rosenior, who endured a torrid stint as Chelsea head coach in the second half of last season.
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