Chelsea Secure Barco and Flowers, Garnacho Departs in Busy Day at Stamford Bridge

insider has confirmed that Chelsea have reached a full agreement to sign Argentina international Valentin Barco from Strasbourg. The deal is described as “100% confirmed” and will see the midfielder move to Stamford Bridge this summer in the latest transaction between the two BlueCo clubs. No transfer fee has been disclosed, but Barco – who has an Estimated Transfer Value of €27.8 million – is set to sign a long-term contract. The move had long been expected, with Barco already announcing his departure from Strasbourg at the end of the Ligue 1 season. Chelsea have also agreed to sign 15-year-old United States youth international Benji Flowers from FC Dallas. According to insider sources, Flowers will join the Blues when he turns 18 for a fee of $3 million (€2.6 million), which could rise to $10 million (€8.8 million) with add-ons. The bonuses are tied to his appearances for Dallas and the US youth national team before he moves to London, and Dallas will retain a sell-on clause. Flowers has already visited London to complete his side of the agreement before returning to Dallas, where he will continue playing for their second team. The club has also made Alejandro Garnacho’s exit official. The winger has joined Aston Villa, with Chelsea confirming the deal contains an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met – believed to be based on appearances – ahead of a four-year contract. Chelsea signed Garnacho from Manchester United for €46 million less than a year ago, and the total fee from Villa is expected to be similar, with Manchester United entitled to a percentage of any profit. Chelsea are also in talks to sign 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen, with The media reporting that the Blues are poised to beat Juventus to his signature. Leverkusen value the Bosnia and Herzegovina international at €35 million (£30 million). Alajbegovic, who scored for his country in the 2026 World Cup, is seen as a replacement for Garnacho. He was in Leverkusen’s youth setup under Xabi Alonso before moving to Red Bull Salzburg and returning to his former club this summer with a view to being sold on. Meanwhile, Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for around €70 million, and a season-long loan for Axel Disasi to Palace has been discussed. According to Romano, Palace have asked about Disasi’s situation, but his inclusion has only been verbally discussed and is not guaranteed.