Strasbourg star Emanuel Emegha is set to join Chelsea next year to give Enzo Maresca another striker option.
Last month, it was announced that Chelsea had reached a pre-agreement with their sister club to sign the 22-year-old.
Strasbourg president Marc Keller revealed that Emegha had 10 offers in the summer and could have left the Ligue 1 outfit then.
However, the Dutchman wanted to join Chelsea, who have already mapped out his career at Stamford Bridge.
Emanuel Emegha set to remain at Chelsea next summer
Maresca currently has Joao Pedro and Liam Delap at his disposal for the centre-forward position, though the latter is out injured right now.
Marc Guiu is also an option for the Chelsea manager after being recalled from his loan at Sunderland.
Even so, it looks like Emegha will be staying at Stamford Bridge for the 2026/27 season once he officially joins the Club World Cup winners.
Asked about Chelsea’s plans for Emegha in a Q&A for the Daily Mail, journalist Kieran Gill said: “He is set to stay with Chelsea once he arrives from Strasbourg next summer.”
Emegha has come under fire after announcing his move to Chelsea mid-season. He has been criticised by Strasbourg supporters, but Liam Rosenior has backed Emegha and refused to strip him of the captaincy.
The above has not stopped Emegha from performing, with the Netherlands Under-21 international managing to score two goals in four Ligue 1 appearances this season. He has also registered two assists.
What Emanuel Emegha signing means for Nicolas Jackson
Following his loan move to Bayern Munich, Nicolas Jackson‘s Chelsea career already looked over. But with Emegha set to join the Conference League holders, there is definitely no way back for the 24-year-old now.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently discussed Emegha and Jackson, saying: “The feeling at Chelsea is that with Jackson, it’s over. Emanuel Emegha will get that place of that kind of striker.”
Rosenior would have wanted Emegha in his squad next season. “He’s a player who arrived here more than two years ago. He’s grown, he’s given everything to this club. He was exceptional,” the Strasbourg manager said (via Metro) when speaking about his striker in September.
Given the nature of Strasbourg and Chelsea’s relationship, though, there is nothing that he could have done to stop a transfer.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
