Despite his limited senior experience, Chelsea moved quickly to sign 19-year-old Mathis Amougou for £12.5m after tracking his development over the past two years.
Chelsea’s decision to secure Mathis Amougou from Saint-Étienne was a rapid move made in the final days before the transfer deadline, but the club had been monitoring his progress for two years. Despite having only 19 professional appearances and being halfway through his first full season with the senior team, Amougou’s potential was evident from his performances at youth international tournaments – including a standout showing at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup and a strong run at the Under-19 European Championship. His impressive statistics in Ligue 1, combined with interest from other top European clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, prompted Chelsea to act swiftly when contract negotiations with Saint-Étienne reached a critical juncture. The club views him as a long-term prospect for the No.6 role and has even planned for him to possibly join Strasbourg on loan next season to ensure he gets regular first-team experience, thereby easing his transition into the Chelsea system.
