The Barco Effect: How Chelsea's Latest Signing Reflects a Larger Trend in Football Transfers Chelsea has signed Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco for a reported seven year deal, the latest example of top clubs snatching young talent from smaller European sides.
While the specifics of the deal remain confidential, the frequency with which big clubs like Chelsea are poaching young players from smaller teams is noteworthy.
Barco's transfer path mirrors that of several other recent deals. The Argentine midfielder came from Boca Juniors' academy and was loaned to Strasbourg after a brief stint at Brighton.