Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso is set to move to Ligue 1 side Racing de Strasbourg, leaving the Premier League to sign with the French club. The deal has been arranged with Brighton and involves the Libertad product heading to Strasbourg, with a longer-term plan to return to English football and Chelsea.
The BlueCo consortium, which has been involved with Strasbourg since 2023 and owns Chelsea since 2022, reportedly reached an agreement with Brighton to bring Enciso into the Strasbourg fold. The Athletic reports that Enciso will initially spend a short period with the French club before a path opens back to the English game and a Chelsea shirt. The New York Times’ sports desk echoes the sentiment, describing Enciso as a long-term Chelsea asset.
Enciso is currently in the process of rehabilitation after knee surgery performed in July. He returned to England last week to continue the recovery. The Paraguayan forward was ruled out by coach Gustavo Alfaro for the upcoming national team window, including the September 4 qualifier against Ecuador, with an expected return to action in October.
This move marks a notable step in a development strategy tied to BlueCo’s network of clubs, presenting Enciso with the chance to gain regular top-flight minutes in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg, while keeping a clear long-term pathway back to Chelsea. If the plan unfolds as described, it could provide a valuable bridge for Enciso to rebuild form and confidence after his knee surgery, potentially accelerating his trajectory toward the Chelsea first team.
What this could mean for Enciso going forward is a structured route: develop in a competitive league, showcase his talent in Ligue 1, and re-enter Chelsea’s journey as a more seasoned, versatile forward. It’s a move that carries cautious optimism, balancing immediate playing time with a view to a long-term association with Chelsea.
Summary: Julio Enciso nears a move to Strasbourg with a plan to stay briefly before returning to Chelsea on a long-term basis, while continuing his recovery from knee surgery and missing national-team duty in September, with an October return anticipated. The arrangement reflects BlueCo’s broader talent-development approach across clubs.