Who is Emanuel Emegha? Chelsea plot £32m transfer plan to sign the ‘next Zlatan Ibrahimovic’

Emanuel Emegha has recently emerged as a target for Chelsea. The Strasbourg striker has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer following his impressive performances in the French top-flight.

Emegha, whose contract at Stade de la Meinau expires in June 2028, featured 27 times in the Ligue 1 this season, scoring 14 goals and providing three assists. Playing a key role for Liam Rosenior’s side, he helped Strasbourg finish seventh place and qualify for the Conference League.

The 22-year-old Dutchman’s eye-catching displays haven’t gone unnoticed, attracting interest from some top clubs. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up everything you need to know about Emegha and a potential transfer to Chelsea.

Who is Emegha?

Emegha first made a name for himself at Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The towering frontman earned his stripes in the academy before forcing himself into the first team.

During the 2020/21 season, he enjoyed appearances off the bench, scoring his first top-flight goal in a 3-0 win over Vitesse Arnhem. In the following campaign, Emegha was given a few more starts, and he attracted interest from Belgium.

In January 2022, Royal Antwerp prised the Netherlands youth international from his boyhood club. Emegha hardly featured for his new club, so he joined SK Sturm Graz a few months later.

It was in the Austrian top-flight where he enjoyed his first full season as a first-choice striker, scoring nine goals in 27 games. Emegha helped Sturm Graz win the domestic cup, providing a crucial assist in a 2-0 win over Rapid Vienna in the final.

After just a year or so in Austria, the Dutchman was on the move again. He joined Strasbourg in July 2023, which was just weeks after BlueCo, the consortium which purchased Chelsea in May 2022, bought the French outfit.

Emegha had a promising start to life in Ligue 1, scoring eight goals in 28 games. This season, under Rosenior, the Dutchman has taken his game to the next level, leading the frontline with aplomb.

How does Emegha play?

Standing at 6’5″, Emegha towers over defenders. And, according to Ligue 1, he clocked at 37.72 km/h over 60 metres this season, placing him ‘well ahead of the fastest players in the division’.

Emegha also covered more ground (9.99 km) per match than any other striker, while also holding the record for the most sprints in a single match (43). Over the season as a whole, the Chelsea target was clocked as the fourth most active player.

Emegha would be a good option for Enzo Maresca when the Blues need a target man to pin centre-backs, hold onto possession and win aerial duels. With energy to burn, he could also lead the press and help Chelsea stretch the opposition with his darting runs in behind.

Who wants to sign Emegha?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea want to arrange a deal to sign Emegha from Strasbourg next year. The report claims that there is ‘no chance’ the striker will leave Rosenior’s side this summer.

It’s said that Emegha is viewed as key to the French outfit’s project, and the west Londoners like him as a possible option in the future. He’s also been linked with a move to Juventus, but Romano believes those reports are wide of the mark.

How much will Emegha cost?

Transfermarkt currently value Emegha at €25m (£21.4m), meanwhile, the CIES Football Observatory price him between €25m (£21.4m) and €37m (£31.7m). If his stocks continue to rise then moving him across to Chelsea’s books now looks like a smart decision.

What has been said about Emegha?

Speaking to French newspaper L’Équipe, his former coach at the Sparta Rotterdam Under-16s compared Emegha to two all-time sporting greats. Tim Roest said: “He has a Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Michael Jordan side [to him].”

How will Emegha impact Chelsea?

Emegha could be an exciting addition to Maresca’s squad in the near future if he can continue developing at the same rate. He’s come on leaps and bounds under Rosenior at Strasbourg, so, as his stock rises, it’s unsurprising that Chelsea want to maximise their results – whether that be performance on the pitch or monetary.

To put it bluntly, the signing of Emegha wouldn’t impact the west Londoners’ general business this summer. BlueCo just anticipate that the Dutchman will take his game to the next level in 2025/26 before a decision is made over his future this time next year.