Julio Enciso’s transfer from Brighton to Chelsea—and his immediate loan to Strasbourg—has become a lightning rod for debate about multi-club ownership models, exposing football’s evolving landscape and layers of irony, particularly as Crystal Palace faces demotion to the UEFA Conference League for having fallen foul of multi club ownership rules. I have covered this previously, in particular the fact that John Textor, in my opinion, has no decisive influence over Palace. This transfer, if anything, shows what UEFA were trying to stop from happening.
Chelsea’s owners, the BlueCo consortium, have strategically acquired both Chelsea and French club Strasbourg. Enciso, after struggling for form and fitness at Brighton, has signed a long-term contract with BlueCo, beginning his continental journey at Strasbourg for the 2025/26 season while being earmarked as a future Chelsea player. The transfer reportedly cost around €20 million, with Enciso expected to prove himself in Ligue 1 before a likely move to Stamford Bridge next summer.
Supporters of Strasbourg have voiced frustration about the growing influence Chelsea exercises—since BlueCo’s purchase, several players have crossed the Channel, either on loan or permanent deals, as part of the group’s talent pipeline. Enciso’s arrival is the latest in a stream of signings enabled by the shared ownership structure, raising concerns about club identity and competitive integrity in France’s top flight.
What makes this transfer especially ironic is Crystal Palace’s current situation. Palace has been demoted to the UEFA Conference League following an apparent suggestion that they are breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership guidelines. Their struggles stand in sharp contrast to Chelsea’s expanding empire, underscoring the gulf between clubs harnessing global networks and those felt disillusioned by the arbitrary nature of UEFA’s decisions.
The Enciso saga is not merely about a young player seeking minutes in France’s top division. It is a case study in multi-club ownership’s controversial rise. BlueCo’s business model allows Chelsea and Strasbourg to coordinate recruiting, player development, and transfers, sometimes to the apparent detriment of the wider game’s spirit. Fans have pointed out the awkwardness in transfers where a consortium negotiates essentially with itself.
For Chelsea, the system delivers flexibility, control, and a farm-system approach for nurturing prospects like Enciso. For Strasbourg, it means talent influx—but also potential loss of autonomy.