He left Chelsea last month despite their ‘high hopes’, now he’s set to join Swansea City

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Swansea City are poised to complete the season-long loan signing of a highly rated defender who recently left Chelsea.

Transfer deadline day for the summer window is upon us, and Swansea City will be heavily involved both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

Alan Sheehan’s side have made a positive start to the 2025/26 Championship season, with two wins, a draw, and one loss from their first four outings, placing the Swans in seventh spot.

Swansea have targeted Adam Idah from Celtic with a fee in the region of £7m on the cards ahead of the 7:00pm deadline.

As well as the deal for Idah, Swansea are closing in on the capture of a recently departed Chelsea starlet on a season-long loan deal.

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Swansea City set to sign Ishe Samuels-Smith on loan from Strasbourg

Swansea have been chasing Idah for several days now, with an expectation that the deal will go through come the end of deadline day.

The other major incoming signing at the Swans concerns former Chelsea starlet Ishe Samuels-Smith, who is poised to join Sheehan’s side on a season-long loan from Strasbourg.

Throughout the summer, the former Chelsea academy captain has been in high demand, with Middlesbrough and Stoke City targeting Samuels-Smith before he left the Blues for their Ligue 1 sister club Strasbourg.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph revealed on X: “Swansea City are closing in on the signing of Strasbourg left-back Ishe Samuels-Smith.

“It’s understood the clubs have agreed a season-long loan deal for the 19-year-old. Samuel-Smith joined Strasbourg last month from Chelsea.”

The 19-year-old primarily plays as a central defender but is also capable of operating as a left-back, offering great strength in depth and versatility to Sheehan.

During his time in the youth ranks, Samuels-Smith earned lofty acclaim from the Blues hierarchy regarding his future potential.

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Chelsea had ‘high hopes’ for Swansea City-bound Ishe Samuels-Smith

Football London reported in April that Chelsea had “extremely high hopes” for Samuels-Smith, but the young defender has failed to find a way into Maresca’s first-team contention.

When analysing the statistics that Samuels-Smith recorded at youth level for the Londoners, it is clear why those in the academy ranks tipped the Englishman to go far.

Samuels-Smith scored two goals and registered seven assists in 34 outings at the heart of the Chelsea academy’s defence last season as his side finished third in the Premier League Two table.

Samuels-Smith’s performances in the Blues’ youth ranks saw him included in Maresca’s matchday squad for clashes against Aston Villa and Southampton last season, and Swansea are now set to benefit from his services throughout the 2025/26 season.