Chelsea could send five players to Strasbourg during one extraordinary summer reshuffle, but Dario Essugo taking the final available loan position may force the Blues into a very different decision over Mykhailo Mudryk.
Deivid Washington is expected to complete a permanent move to Strasbourg for around €10million plus bonuses, while Omari Kellyman could follow him to Alsace on another permanent deal.
Dario Essugo is also interested in spending the season with the Ligue 1 club.
L’Equipe reports that Strasbourg are considering taking Essugo on loan, which would place another Chelsea player inside BlueCo’s French development pathway.
The complication concerns Mudryk.
🚨🇺🇦 Mykhaylo Mudryk, 100% expected to leave Chelsea on loan as revealed earlier this month.
Leeds United are pushing but Chelsea have rejected opening bid on straight loan. 🟡🔵
Chelsea open to Strasbourg loan for Mudryk while player keen on Premier League move. pic.twitter.com/OZdeKTPIUa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2026
Dario Essugo could take Strasbourg’s final Chelsea loan spot
Strasbourg have already borrowed two Chelsea players this summer.
ReadChelsea covered Genesis Antwi’s season-long Strasbourg move after Chelsea officially confirmed it earlier this month, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has also headed to France.
Under FIFA’s rules limiting the number of players who can be loaned between the same clubs, Essugo would occupy Strasbourg’s final available Chelsea loan position.
Get French Football News reports that the 21-year-old is keen on the move.
That is particularly interesting given how Chelsea treated Essugo only weeks ago.
Chelsea handed him the captain’s armband during their final pre-season tour fixture, with Essugo describing the decision as a sign of Xabi Alonso’s trust.
He now faces fierce competition from Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Jordan Henderson for midfield minutes.
A season playing regularly in Ligue 1 could therefore make considerably more developmental sense than remaining on the fringes at Stamford Bridge.
What would it mean for Mykhailo Mudryk?
Essugo’s move would have a knock-on effect elsewhere.
Chelsea have previously considered Strasbourg as a destination for Mudryk while trying to find regular football for the Ukrainian following his return to competitive action.
ReadChelsea reported that Mudryk has accepted the possibility of leaving Chelsea on loan, although his preference has been to remain in the Premier League rather than move to Strasbourg.
Leeds United have since made an opening loan proposal, which Chelsea rejected, while Brentford and Coventry City have also shown interest.
If Essugo occupies Strasbourg’s final Chelsea loan position, the French club would effectively disappear as a straightforward temporary solution for Mudryk.
That could push Chelsea towards reopening negotiations with Leeds or another domestic club.
There is another layer to the Strasbourg business.
Washington’s permanent move and a proposed permanent transfer for Kellyman allow Chelsea to move players between the BlueCo clubs without using additional loan places.
Reports suggest Chelsea are also negotiating a buy-back mechanism in Kellyman’s prospective deal, allowing the club to retain some control over his future development.
The result could be five Chelsea players moving to Strasbourg this summer through a mixture of loans and permanent transfers.
For Washington and Kellyman, Chelsea appear prepared to make permanent decisions.
For Essugo, the pathway could remain temporary.
And for Mudryk, Chelsea’s choice over Strasbourg’s final loan place may help determine where the next stage of his comeback takes place.
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