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Strasbourg player Valentín Barco shared an unexpected farewell message to the French club on social media, with a summer move to Chelsea widely anticipated.
It was revealed last month that Chelsea had already reached an agreement with Barco, a central midfielder with considerable experience at left back, to join Stamford Bridge this summer, though at the time, Chelsea were not believed to have decided whether to proceed with the transfer.
While official confirmation has yet to come, Barco has made it evident he will not feature for Strasbourg next season, turning to Instagram to say his goodbyes to the Ligue 1 club.
"Today I say farewell to this club," he wrote in a detailed statement that also contained words of appreciation for former head coach Liam Rosenior, who was at the helm at Chelsea when reports of a potential move for Barco first surfaced.
"Thank you so much for this year and a half, and I wish you all the best for the future."
Should Barco complete his anticipated move to Chelsea, he will follow forward Emmanuel Emegha in making the journey from eastern France to Stamford Bridge this summer, with Chelsea making full use of their co-ownership arrangement with Strasbourg.
Why Chelsea Want Barco
Chelsea's pursuit of Barco is far from a recent development.
When the Argentine was rising through the ranks at Boca Juniors, Chelsea were among the leading clubs looking to bring him to European football. At that stage, Barco was being deployed almost exclusively as a left back, though his ability to drift into midfield made him an appealing fit for the modern game.
Barco ultimately turned down Chelsea's approach and opted to join Brighton & Hove Albion instead, where he failed to make an impact and managed just seven appearances before being sent on loan to Sevilla, where his fortunes were similarly disappointing.
In need of a fresh start, Barco finally heeded the BlueCo ownership group and completed a move to Strasbourg, initially on loan before a permanent transfer clause was activated. It was in France that the 21-year-old rediscovered his top form.
His time at Strasbourg began as a left wing back under Rosenior, who gradually transitioned Barco into a permanent midfielder and reaped considerable rewards from that tactical change.
Exactly how Barco would slot into Chelsea's setup may largely depend on the system employed by incoming manager Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard preferred a 3-4-2-1 formation at Bayer Leverkusen and could revert to that structure at Stamford Bridge, which would bode well for Barco given his extensive familiarity with that system under Rosenior.
Able to provide cover for Marc Cucurella on the left or contribute in the center of midfield, Barco offers the kind of versatility that modern managers prize highly, though supporters may need some persuading after growing frustrated with the club's habit of signing young prospects.
Barco's prior struggles in the Premier League will not immediately inspire confidence, but the Argentina international will be eager to demonstrate how much he has developed during his two-year spell away from England.