CONFIRMED: Chelsea summer swap deal already arranged

Robin Bairner

6 Feb 2025 01:48 CST
3 min read

Chelsea have already arranged their first transfer movements of the summer window barely hours after Deadline Day, football transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

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The Blues had a relatively quiet winter transfer period, with the only major signing young midfielder Mathis Amougou from Saint-Etienne who arrived for €13 million. He is a replacement for Cesare Casadei, who moved to Torino for the same price.

There were, meanwhile, a string of loan movements at Stamford Bridge that changed the complexion of Enzo Maresca’s squad, with Chelsea using this market to develop their young players.

One youngster already out on loan is Andrey Santos, who is playing for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 for a second season, and it is the young Brazilian who is at the heart of a transaction that will help to shape Chelsea’s future in 2025/26.

STATS

Andrey Santos

M, DM (C)

Strasbourg

Andrey Santos

M, DM (C)

Strasbourg

19

Games
7

Goals
1

Assists

Andrey Santos and Amougou to trade places

According to Romano, the 20-year-old Andrey Santos and Amougou will swap places after the summer.

The football transfer news reporter revealed to GMS: “Chelsea brought in Amougou immediately so he can develop, start adapting to English football, help as backup in midfield but then he will head to sister club Strasbourg on loan from July as the plan has already been shared with the player.

“Andrey Santos will return to Chelsea and be part of the first team, as BlueCo management didn’t want to recall him now to let Andrey perform and shine again at Strasbourg and then do the best pre-season possible from July as a new Chelsea player.”

Crucially, Andrey Santos will have turned 21 by the summer – his birthday is on 3 May – and at that point will take up an additional spot in Chelsea’s loan allocation as a result.

Strasbourg, meanwhile, are doing their job impressively with the Brazilian, who has seen his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) shoot up to €27m after some.

The Blues will hope that Amougou can continue to develop in a similar fashion at Liam Rosenior’s side, with the 19-year-old, whose ETV is €9.2m, having already played 17 top-flight matches in France.