Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Julio Enciso is reportedly on his way to Strasbourg - and potentially Chelsea - after all following fears of a transfer collapse.
The 21-year-old was heavily linked with a switch to the Blues' sister club in Ligue 1 earlier in the summer window, and it was claimed that a €20m (£17.3m) package was in place for him to join Liam Rosenior's men.
The idea was for Enciso to join up with Strasbourg before eventually becoming a fully-fledged Chelsea player, as the Club World Cup winners utilised their multi-club model through BlueCo once again.
However, Enciso is currently struggling with a knee injury, and it was reported by the Daily Mail this week that his proposed move to Strasbourg was in danger of collapsing.
The South American was alleged to have failed his medical with Les Coureurs, a consequence of suffering three separate knee injuries since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, although such fears may have now been laid to rest.
Enciso transfer 'sealed' as possible Chelsea future revealed
Julio Enciso of Ipswich Town celebrates on April 2, 2025
According to Fabrizio Romano, a deal to see Enciso join Strasbourg has now been 'sealed', and the 2004-born attacker has '100% completed' his medical with the Ligue 1 upstarts.
The Brighton man will join Rosenior's team on a five-year contract until the summer of 2030, and he has a 'potential future' with sister club Chelsea if he manages to produce the goods in Ligue 1.
Enciso will join three existing Chelsea loanees in Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez at the Stade de la Meinau, as well as former Brighton teammate Valentin Barco and ex-Blues youngster Diego Moreira.
The Paraguay international leaves Brighton with a record of five goals and six assists from 57 appearances across all competitions, but he failed to find the back of the net in any of the last two full Premier League seasons for the Seagulls.
However, Enciso managed two strikes and three assists in 13 top-flight appearances for Ipswich Town in the second half of last season, but he could not prevent the Tractor Boys from suffering an immediate relegation back down to the Championship.
Will Enciso Strasbourg deal affect Chelsea's move for Facundo Buonanotte?
Brighton & Hove Albion's Facundo Buonanotte on March 10, 2024
When the Enciso to Strasbourg deal appeared dead in the water, Chelsea moved onto another young playmaker from the Amex Stadium, striking a deal for 20-year-old Facundo Buonanotte.
The Argentina international enjoyed a productive loan spell at Leicester City last term with six goals and three assists from 35 games in all tournaments, but like Enciso, he was powerless to stop the Foxes from dropping down to the second tier.
Buonanotte has not made a competitive squad for Brighton this season, though, and the surprise news broke on Friday evening that Chelsea were close to wrapping up a loan agreementfor the embryonic playmaker.
The move will supposedly not include an option or obligation for a permanent transfer, though, so the latest Enciso developments should not impact Chelsea's short-term deal for the Argentinian midfielder.
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