Chelsea line up future move for Brighton star as transfer deal is agreed

Julio Enciso is viewed as a ‘long-term Chelsea player’ by BlueCo (Picture: Getty)

Brighton midfielder Julio Enciso is being lined up for a future at Stamford Bridge after agreeing a deal with BlueCo – the group that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg.

The 21-year-old had been tipped for big things after announcing himself to Premier League fans with a Puskas Award-nominated strike against Manchester City to help Brighton secure a place in the 2023/24 Europa League.

But Enciso struggled to nail down a starting spot on the south coast and spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich, where he racked up two goals and three assists in 13 appearances.

Following Ipswich’s relegation into the Championship, Enciso made it clear he was keen to explore possible opportunities away from the Amex Stadium, with regular first-team minutes seen as an absolute priority.

According to The Athletic, BlueCo have now agreed personal terms with Enciso’s camp and the Paraguay international is expected to join up with Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg imminently.

However, the report claims Enciso is ‘viewed as a long-term Chelsea player’ by Todd Boehly’s BlueCo consortium, who completed a takeover of the west London giants in 2022.

After assuming control of Strasbourg 12 months later, Boehly spoke about the multi-club model providing a route for young talent to force their way into the reckoning at Chelsea.

The Paraguayan spent the second half of last season with Ipswich (Picture: Getty)

Boehly took over Strasbourg in 2023, a year after assuming control of Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

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‘We can show pathways for our young superstars to get onto the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game-time,’ the American billionaire said.

Enciso will no doubt be desperate to make an impression in French football with Strasbourg, managed by Liam Rosenior, but the youngster first has to work his way back from knee surgery – which has kept him sidelined since May.

The injury meant Enciso did not feature in Brighton’s pre-season plans or in the side’s 1-1 draw with Fulham last weekend.

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Brighton’s hierarchy had been in agreement that Enciso would be surplus to requirements for the new season, with Fabian Hurzeler well stocked in midfield.

Enciso had just 12 months remaining on his contract with the Seagulls.

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Speaking to ABC Paraguay in May, Enciso revealed that he was keen to enjoy the summer with his loved ones before determining his future.

‘I’ll think about what I’m going to do later,’ Enciso said at the time.

‘I don’t know yet what I will do.

‘I want to enjoy time with my family and then I’ll think about what I’m going to do.’

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