Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, has reached a €20 million agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso, in a move that once again underlines their close transfer ties with the Seagulls. The 21-year-old will first link up with sister club Strasbourg before making the eventual switch to Stamford Bridge.
Enciso, who joined Brighton from Paraguayan champions Libertad in 2022, enjoyed a bright start in England but has battled recurring injuries that stalled his progress. He famously scored a stunning goal against Manchester City in May 2023, earning global praise, yet his momentum was cut short by a torn meniscus in August that sidelined him for six months and saw him miss 38 games across club and international duty.
Despite recovering, Enciso has struggled to regain a prominent role under Brighton’s new head coach Fabian Hurzeler, dropping further down the attacking pecking order. With only five goals in 57 appearances for the club, his potential remains evident, but his path at the Amex has narrowed, paving the way for a move orchestrated by Chelsea’s owners.
This latest acquisition continues BlueCo’s aggressive transfer strategy, particularly their pattern of raiding Brighton for talent since taking control of Chelsea in 2022. Enciso becomes the fifth player to follow that route after Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez, and Joao Pedro, a trend that has sparked debate among fans and pundits about the recruitment philosophy under Todd Boehly’s consortium.
For Strasbourg, Enciso’s arrival offers both a short-term attacking boost and a development phase tailored for Chelsea’s long-term plans. The French club has become a key staging ground for BlueCo’s multi-club project, allowing young players to adapt to European competition before stepping onto the Premier League stage.
Chelsea supporters, meanwhile, will view Enciso as another exciting talent for the future, albeit one carrying fitness concerns. His creativity, pace, and ability to score from range remain his standout qualities, and if he stays fit, he could become a major asset in the next phase of Chelsea’s rebuild.
The €20 million gamble highlights Chelsea’s continued willingness to invest in young, high-ceiling players, even when short-term questions linger. Whether Enciso emerges as another Brighton success story or a risk too far remains to be seen, but his journey from Paraguay to France and eventually Stamford Bridge is already one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer stories.
