Chelsea have pulled off a surprise by bringing Ishe Samuels-Smith straight back into the fold. He was sent to Strasbourg just a month ago.
Chelsea bring back Samuels-Smith
Chelsea have left fans scratching their heads with yet another curious transfer move. Just 33 days ago, the Blues sold defender Ishe Samuels-Smith to Strasbourg for around £6.5m. He had only recently arrived at Chelsea from Everton in 2023. With no minutes played for the first team, it seemed a fresh start was just what he needed.
But Tuesday morning’s announcement flipped the script. The west London side triggered their buy-back clause and loaned Samuels-Smith out to Swansea City for the 2025/26 season.
Reports suggest the decision wasn’t just about squad numbers. Strasbourg’s defensive depth meant Samuels-Smith would have struggled for game time. That is especially after Ismael Doukoure extended his stay and Ben Chilwell’s arrival added more competition.
Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, see Samuels-Smith as a long-term investment. They decided that a loan to the Championship would better shape his growth than being benched in France.
Multi-club ownership under fire
This isn’t the first time Chelsea’s transfer strategy has sparked debate. Rival fans quickly linked the Samuels-Smith move to wider concerns over multi-club ownership. The deal was made possible by the buy-back clause Chelsea inserted when selling him. But, critics argue that the whole process feels like football’s financial system being bent to its limits.
What makes it more controversial is the timing. Just days earlier, Brighton’s Julio Enciso was announced as part of the BlueCo network without a specific club. That raised more eyebrows about how these groups shuffle players around.
Add in Crystal Palace’s recent Europa League exit due to their ties with John Textor’s web of clubs. For Chelsea, this re-signing may be strategic. But, for many fans it’s another chapter in a saga that keeps testing football’s limits.
Author’s Opinion:
Chelsea might argue this is smart business, but it comes across as messy and confusing. The club’s long-term planning is clear, yet these short-term U-turns keep fueling the criticism.
As featured on Chelseanews.com