Shock Ben Chilwell move causes Chelsea transfer merry-go-round as late deal revealed

Chelsea exercised the buy-back option in Ishe Samuels-Smith's contract at Strasbourg and have now loaned the defender to Swansea City.

As exclusively reported on football.london in July, Strasbourg signed the 19-year-old defender in a deal worth around £6.5million, but Chelsea have now opted to bring the Cobham graduate back to the club via a clause in his contract. Ben Chilwell moved to the BlueCo-owned French club on deadline day on a permanent basis, ending his five-year association with the Blues, and it became clear that Samuels-Smith would be moving to Swansea on a season-long loan to pave way for the experienced English left-back.

Sources have told football.london that Chelsea made the decision due to the lack of pathway for Samuels-Smith at Strasbourg. Initially, the French club signed the defender with Ismael Doukoure, who plays in a similar role to Samuels-Smith, looking set to leave amid a contract standoff. However, Doukoure decided to stay and he ended up extending his contract at Stade de la Meinau - blocking Samuels-Smith's pathway somewhat, and with Chilwell signing for the Ligue 1 side, there were even more obstacles for the teenager.

BlueCo still view Samuels-Smith as a big part of the project and decided a loan move to Swansea - that is a straight loan without any option/obligation to buy - was the best option for the versatile defender. Sources close to Samuels-Smith have told football.london while the uncertainty and events surrounding his future are a lot for the 19-year-old to deal with, there is a confidence he will grasp his opportunity at Swansea in the Championship.

There seems to be much excitement from the Swans as well. Head coach Alan Sheehan said: "Ishe will provide valuable cover in a position where we have been short of options. He is a hungry young player who is excited to make the most of this opportunity.

"He joins us with considerable pedigree at academy and youth international level, and we are pleased to have him with us."

Director of football Richard Montague added: "The need to bolster our options on the left side of defence has been well-documented, and we believe the addition of high-quality cover in Ishe will be important for the season ahead and in allowing us to continue to assess this position ahead of future windows."

Global head of analytics and recruitment Adam Worth said: "Ishe will give Alan and his staff an additional natural option on the left side of defence, an area where we have long been aware of the need to add greater depth, and that process will remain ongoing as we look to the future."

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