Midfielder · #4
Valentín Barco
Argentina · 5'7" · 22
His role
Barco is the left-sided wildcard. He can begin at full-back or wing-back, then step into midfield to help Chelsea build and carry the ball forward. That flexibility lets Alonso change the shape without making a substitution.
His story
- 01Drama
He ran off the bench to taunt England
Barco was an unused substitute when Argentina equalised late in their 2026 World Cup semi-final against England. Instead of running toward his own teammates, he sprinted onto the pitch and celebrated in front of the England players. Argentina went through, Jude Bellingham confronted Barco after the match, and one act of taunting ended in a brawl.
- 02Record
He played a Copa Libertadores final at nineteen
Barco made his Boca Juniors debut at sixteen. Two years later he started the Copa Libertadores final, South America's equivalent of the Champions League final, and played 78 minutes before Boca lost to Fluminense after extra time. Brighton paid about $10m for him two months later.
- 03Off the pitch
Four clubs and a World Cup final before his 22nd birthday
Barco went from Boca Juniors to Brighton, then through loans at Sevilla and Strasbourg before the French club signed him permanently. Argentina took him to the 2026 World Cup and reached the final. A few weeks later he joined Chelsea, arriving at 22 with a career that already reads like several different ones.
Career
Boca Juniors2022
Brighton and Hove Albion2023–2025
Sevilla2024
Strasbourg2024–2026
Chelsea2026–
