A new transfer report from Africafoot has claimed that Chelsea have made an offer of over €40 million to Turkish club Trabzonspor for their 19 year old wonderkid Christ Inao Oulaï, who plays as a midfielder. While the authenticity of the news is questionable, it wouldn't be the biggest shock if a deal ends up happening as Chelsea under Todd Boehly are known for spending big on the most exciting youngsters in football who have the potential to become world-class one day.
Why Chelsea wants to sign Christ Inao Oulaï? Are any other clubs looking at him?
The report from Africafoot states that Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit of 19-year-old Christ Inao Oulaï with an offer of around €40 million to Trabzonspor. Chelsea are said to be particularly impressed with the midfielder’s versatility, as he can operate both as a defensive midfielder and in a box-to-box role, fitting Chelsea’s search for modern, all-round players.
However, competition remains strong. Galatasaray have submitted a €20 million bid, which Trabzonspor have rejected, insisting on at least €50 million for their prized asset. PSV Eindhoven are also keeping a close watch on the situation, exploring a potential move to take the former Bastia midfielder to the Netherlands.
Chelsea target Christ Inao Oulaï's career so far
Christ Inao Oulai began his football journey at the JMG Academy, joining at just 12 years old and completing his development there. In July 2024, he moved to France to join Bastia in Ligue 2, where he made his senior debut in November the same year in a Coupe de France win. He scored his first professional goal in April 2025 during a convincing league victory over Laval.
His rapid rise continued in August 2025, when he signed a five-year deal with Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig. Oulai wasted little time making an impact, netting his first goal for the club in October. This season, he has featured in 11 matches for Trabzonspor, contributing 2 goals and 4 assists. His all-round influence is clear from his underlying numbers, including strong duel success, solid tackling, and frequent dribbling, highlighting his development as a dynamic box-to-box midfielder.
On the international stage, Christ Inao Oulai has also impressed. He stood out for Ivory Coast at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, earning the man of the match award against Gabon. These consistent performances at both club and international level underline his huge potential and explain the increasing interest he is attracting from top European clubs.
Will Chelsea sign Christ Inao Oulaï? Our opinion
We feel that the report from Africafoot is an exaggerated piece that's written for the clicks, but the truth is never say never when it comes to Chelsea signing talented young players, as their whole transfer business-model revolves around splashing cash for the most talented youth players in football and developing them into superstars that can either play for them or be sold for huge profits. Thus, we won't say it's impossible for Chelsea to end up signing the player before the January Transfer Window shuts. Whatever happens in the end, one truth that cannot be denied is that Christ Inao Oulaï has all the required tools needed to develop himself into a future football superstar if he keeps improving and focusing on his game.
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