Chelsea forward Omari Kellyman completes permanent switch to Strasbourg after a standout loan spell at Cardiff.
Full name: Chelsea Football Club Nickname: The Blues Founded: 10 March 1905 Ground: Stamford Bridge Owner: BlueCo Chairman: Todd Boehly Manager: Xabi Alonso League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 10th position Website: chelseafc.com Chelsea Football Club is one of the most… Read More about CHELSEA
Omari Kellyman has signed permanently with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, ending his short stay at Chelsea, as per the latest transfer news. The young forward has signed a five-year deal after a strong loan spell in England’s third tier last season.
Omari Kellyman Completes Permanent Move to Strasbourg
The Blues confirmed the move this week, bringing a short spell at Stamford Bridge to a close. As reported by Chelsea’s official website, an injury sidelined him early on, though he still earned a Premier League 2 debut in August 2024 after his move from Aston Villa.
Cardiff City gave him regular game time last season. On loan there, he scored 11 goals in 36 games and helped push the Bluebirds up to the Championship, a run for which fans in Cardiff still fondly remember Omari Kellyman. That form caught Strasbourg’s eye, and the Ligue 1 club have paid around €6m for him, while Chelsea have also kept a buy-back option in place.
He also took part twice in the club’s warm-up tour of Australia and Asia, though regular football always looked unlikely for him there since too many players competed for his position. A move to a sister club should suit him well, because it is a familiar environment rather than a completely new one.
Omari Kellyman for Cardiff in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
League One 36 11 2
EFL Trophy 3 0 0
FA Cup 1 0 0
EFL Cup 2 0 0
Why Chelsea Approved the Deal
This transfer fits a wider pattern, since Chelsea and Strasbourg share the same owner, BlueCo, and have swapped players often since 2023. He is one of several players to move this summer, alongside goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and defender Genesis Antwi, who also joined Strasbourg on loan.
Business has moved the other way too, with Chelsea signing Valentin Barco from Strasbourg this summer. Striker Emanuel Emegha joined in the same deal, worth close to $75 million combined, while three players who were on loan at the French club, including goalkeeper Mike Penders, have already come back to Stamford Bridge.
Strasbourg also faced financial trouble with UEFA, having picked up a €13 million fine in June for overspending. A low fee paired with a buy-back clause suits both sides well. For Chelsea, it earns some money back on a player who never made the first team, while for Omari Kellyman, it offers a genuine chance to play regular football in Ligue 1.
What Comes Next for Omari Kellyman in Ligue 1
Strasbourg have not started the season well, sitting at the bottom of Ligue 1 after losing to Marseille, a game in which they managed just five shots. The team clearly needs a sharp runner who can find the net, and Omari Kellyman fits that role well, given how much he likes to run in behind and shoot from close range.
His numbers from Cardiff back this up, since he made 36 successful dribbles and won 30 aerial duels last season, figures that point to real strength alongside genuine skill on the ball. Coach Hugo Oliveira has also spoken about wanting more threat up front, and this signing should help address that need directly.
The buy-back clause means this may not be the end of his Chelsea spell. If Omari Kellyman keeps scoring at this rate, a return to the Premier League one day would not be a surprise. For now, though, his focus stays on proving himself in French football, and the next few months in Ligue 1 should reveal just how far he can go.
Read More: Mykhailo Mudryk: Chelsea reject second Leeds approach
Also Read: Alfie Osborne joins Chelsea as Blues secure teenage star