Chelsea Football Club is currently in discussions regarding the potential acquisition of forward N’Sira Safi from the Right to Dream Academy.
The 17-year-old player was recently selected to represent the Ivory Coast in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which was unexpectedly canceled last month.
Safi previously participated in a trial with Chelsea during the summer of 2025, where she made a positive impression on manager Sonia Bompastor.
As of now, no formal agreement has been established. The Right to Dream organization, known for its successful development of African talent, retains the option to assign Safi to one of its partner clubs after she turns 18. These clubs include Nordsjaelland in Denmark and San Diego FC in the United States.
BlueCo, the ownership group of Chelsea and Strasbourg, has developed a comprehensive scouting network throughout Africa, which has facilitated talent acquisition for their men’s teams in both England and France. Additionally, they have appointed Phil Radley as the women’s sporting director, who brings over ten years of experience from Nordsjaelland.
However, the Football Association’s intricate Governing Body Endorsement regulations complicate the signing of non-British players, making it generally more challenging to recruit young African talents into women’s football in England. In contrast, clubs in the United States face fewer limitations, allowing them to dominate the recruitment of players from the continent.
Due to these regulations, if Safi were to join Chelsea, an initial loan arrangement might be necessary to support her development while she accumulates the international caps required to obtain a full work permit for the reigning Women’s Super League champions.
The upcoming summer transfer window for 2026 is set to open on June 15 and will close on August 31.
