Report: Chelsea told to pay £11m to sign 17-year-old forward | OneFootball

Chelsea Move Targets Teenage Forward From Ligue 2

Chelsea’s latest recruitment push has turned towards France again, with L’EQUIPE reporting that the Premier League club have made an opening offer of eight million euros for AS Saint-Etienne forward Djylian N’Guessan. The bid has been rejected, but the direction of travel feels familiar. Chelsea continue to position themselves at the front of the queue when elite teenage talent becomes available, particularly in markets where financial pressure encourages early sales.

N’Guessan, still only 17, is regarded as one of the most promising strikers of his age group in France. Saint-Etienne’s new owners, Kilmer Sports Ventures, are finding it difficult to persuade their brightest academy products to commit to a long term vision in Ligue 2. After Mathis Amougou left for Chelsea last winter for 15 million euros, before being sold on to Strasbourg, the pattern is repeating.

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Contract Situation Accelerates Exit

Unlike Paul Eymard, his teammate in France’s Under 17 European Championship final defeat to Portugal, N’Guessan has refused to extend his contract. His current deal runs until 30 June 2027, but the club have accepted that a sale is the pragmatic option. L’EQUIPE describe him as “one of the most promising players of his generation”, a status that inevitably draws attention from abroad.

Having signed his first professional contract on 8 November 2024, N’Guessan was fast tracked again this year, promoted to France’s Under 20 squad for the World Cup. He featured in the semi final defeat to Morocco, a 1-1 draw decided 5-4 on penalties, where he missed the decisive spot kick. Even that moment has not slowed the momentum around his development.

Valuation Standoff With Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne have set their valuation at 12.5 million euros, at least. Chelsea’s opening offer of eight million euros fell well short of expectations, but negotiations are expected to continue. Brentford and Arsenal are also monitoring the situation, though Chelsea are described as the most persistent.

BlueCo’s multi club model is again central. L’EQUIPE note that Chelsea want N’Guessan “to fall into their portfolio of players”, with a pathway that could mirror previous moves between London and Strasbourg. Another sign of the fractured relationship between player and club is telling, his younger brother has signed for Lyon, a symbolic break that underlines how far this situation has progressed.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Chelsea’s recruitment strategy under BlueCo has leaned heavily towards elite teenagers with resale value and long term upside. N’Guessan fits that profile perfectly. At 17, he already has experience at youth international level and a physical profile that suggests he could develop into a modern Premier League number nine.

Supporters will inevitably ask where he fits. The senior squad already feels crowded, and recent examples show that immediate first team integration is rare. Yet that is no longer the only measure of success. Chelsea fans have grown used to seeing young signings developed patiently, loaned strategically, or placed within the wider group structure. If the fee settles closer to eight million euros than 12.5 million, the risk is relatively modest.

There is also an emotional pull. Seeing another French prospect choose Chelsea reinforces the sense that the club remains a destination for young talent despite recent turbulence. However, fans will want reassurance that this is not simply accumulation for its own sake. The hope is that N’Guessan becomes more than an asset, that he is a forward who one day leads the line at Stamford Bridge rather than passing through on the balance sheet.