Chelsea owner Blueco has taken 15 players or staff from Brighton since 2022.
Chelsea will poach yet another player from Brighton after the owner agrees to midfielder Giulio Enciso’s move, but he will actually sign up to the London side at a later date after signing his sister club Strasbourg.
It was Chelsea’s 15th time since 2022 that Chelsea has taken players or staff from AMEX, and the Seagulls have effectively become the Blues feeder team.
Athletic reports that Strasbourg, owned by Chelsea Chief Todd Bouley, will pay Enciso about £15 million. Brighton has won nearly £300 million in sales from Chelsea owners raiding the club after Joan Pedro joined for around £60 million earlier this summer.
Mark Kuklera was the first player to join Brighton’s Chelsea in 2022 during his time as a Bouley. Manager Graham Potter then joined in a few months later. Robert Sanchez and Mose Causeid are two other celebrities who switched clubs.
After signing yet another contract between Boehly and Brighton owner Tony Bloom, Mirror Sport looked into Chelsea’s strategy and the relationship between the club.
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How did the Chelsea owners take off Enciso’s move?
Chelsea has spent nearly £250 million on transfers this summer and is still seeing lots of deals after pursuing Red Bull Leipzig’s Zaby Simmons, Manchester United’s winger Alejand Roganacho and Aston Villastar’s Morgan Rogers.
Conversely, they managed to rave about £200 million, but if Simons, Garnacho, or Rogers joins the Blues by the deadline, they will need to balance the book even more to avoid breaching the PSR rules.
According to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, clubs are allowed to record £105 million losses over three years. However, that £15 million is permitted as £90 million for losses of “your money” and owner investments.
Signing Enciso this season would certainly have taken up a large portion of Chelsea’s budget, but as far as PSR rules are concerned, there is no rule again for him to join another club.
That means Enciso, 21, who has played 57 times for Brighton over the past three seasons, has not taken into consideration Chelsea’s financial range this season and will be able to consolidate him at a later date without falling into PSR regulations.
The role of Strasbourg
Boehly’s company Blueco, along with investment firm Clearlake Capital, took over Strasbourg for £65.2 million in 2023, and has since used the club as Chelsea outlet to send players for the experience.
Beauley had previously attempted to sign a similar deal in French Bordeaux, but was unable to agree to the acquisition.
When Beauley bought Strasbourg, he promised to “maintain that legacy,” but he said it would “more than our presence in European football” and “create a great opportunity to share knowledge and expertise.”
The American billionaire added that by owning the club, he provided “a path for young superstars to go to Chelsea’s pitch while earning actual game time.”
Chelsea’s multi-club ownership strategy continues with a similar setting for Manchester City. The Manchester City city group companies own Girona, Palermo, New York City, Melbourne and Mumbai.
Who else joined the French club?
Chelsea is taking advantage of their ties with Strasbourg by sending a number of young people loaned to a club managed by former Hull City boss Liam Rosenia.
This season, goalkeeper Mike Pender and young people Kendley Paes and Mamado Saar – just signed Chelsea, Mamado Saar, has been loaned out to the club.
The SARR is now lent back to the club for around £12 million from Strasbourg, while Paez was signed by Indipendiente for around £8 million.
All three players will earn experience playing in the UEFA Conference League this season after Strasbourg finished seventh in League One last season.
In recent seasons, Strasbourg has signed Chelsea’s Iche Samuels Smith, Mattis Amugou and Diego Maurila on a permanent deal.
Last season, they loaned out goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. The first Chelsea youngsters to be loaned to the Alsace Club were Angelo and Andrei Santos.
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