Middlesbrough and Stoke City are ‘pushing to sign’ Chelsea starlet, but face top flight competition

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Championship rivals Middlesbrough and Stoke City are two of four sides targeting the Chelsea Under-21s captain for a loan deal in the summer transfer window.

With the summer transfer window in full swing, business has been rife within the second tier so far as clubs prepare for the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

The major business at Middlesbrough this summer has been the acquisition of head coach Rob Edwards and Josh Coburn’s move to Millwall.

At Stoke City, the headlines have centred around the signing of Sorba Thomas from Huddersfield Town, which left Stoke fans delighted at Thomas’ signing.

As we enter the middle of the window, Boro and Stoke are locked in a transfer battle with two top flight giants to land the loan capture of a highly-rated Chelsea starlet.

• READ MORE: Burnley in transfer battle with Premier League rivals to sign Salford City duo after first bid rejected

Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Sunderland and Rangers target Ishe Samuels-Smith

Boro and Stoke face competition from newly promoted Sunderland and Scottish Premier League giants Rangers to secure the services of Chelsea Under-21s captain Ishe Samuels-Smith this summer, according to Football London.

The 19-year-old defender, who primarily plays at left-back but is also a capable centre-back, scored twice and notched seven assists in 34 appearances for Chelsea Under-21s last season.

Samuels-Smith is seen as a future first-team figure by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy, given that the English youth international signed a new long-term deal with Chelsea earlier this year, keeping him tied down with the Blues until 2031.

Chelsea believe that senior first-team experience will be the next step in his development, and the report adds that Boro, Stoke, Sunderland, and Rangers have all “held club-to-club talks with Chelsea” over a potential loan move for the teenager.

With Stoke set to sign Maksym Talovierov from Plymouth Argyle, Potters boss Mark Robins’ defensive structure will be improved massively with the arrivals of the Ukrainian and Samuels-Smith.

After Coventry signed Kaine Kesler-Hayden at the expense of Boro and Southampton, the Teessiders are also looking for backline reinforcements, as a result of Edwards’ three-back system.

Whichever of the four clubs signs Samuels-Smith is set to land one of the best young defenders in the country, and the player himself has already told his next club what they can expect from him.

• READ MORE: Hayden Hackney changes agents ahead of Middlesbrough exit, Sunderland among clubs keeping tabs

What kind of player is Chelsea Under-21s ace Ishe Samuels-Smith

Chelsea Under-21s finished third in the Premier League Two table for the 2024/25 campaign, and Samuels-Smith was an imperative part of that high finish.

Samuels-Smith has captained the Blues youngsters nine times this season, in his third year at Stamford Bridge since moving from Everton’s academy in 2023, as part of the Chelsea Academy’s leadership programme under John Terry.

Via Chelsea’s website, Samuels-Smith said of his season: “I’ve really enjoyed wearing the armband,

“It’s something I take a lot of pride in, but it also comes with responsibility. Leading by example, both on and off the pitch, is key.

“As captain, my role is to bring the team together, motivate everyone, and help each player give their best.

“This season has been a massive learning curve. Training with the men’s team and being part of the matchday squad has been huge for me personally.

“It’s motivating as it pushes me to raise my game. Ultimately, that’s where I want to be, challenging myself every week at that level.”

Samuels-Smith featured in Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea matchday squad against Aston Villa and Southampton in the Premier League season, and both Boro and Stoke will be desperate to land the highly-coveted defender’s signature ahead of the 2025/26 Championship season.