Chelsea sign Argentina player slapped by Bellingham at World Cup

Chelsea have signed Argentina midfielder Valentín Barco on a seven-year contract after his involvement in a post-match confrontation with England’s Jude Bellingham at last month’s World Cup. The incident occurred after the semi-final, with video later emerging showing Barco celebrating Enzo Fernández’s equaliser before Bellingham reacted and slapped him. Barco had entered as an unused substitute and appeared to taunt Nico O’Reilly and then barge into John Stones. Bellingham was previously provoked, including by Cristian Romero after the final whistle, before Barco squared up and Nicolás Otamendi intervened. Barco previously joined Brighton in January 2024 on a four-and-a-half-year deal, then moved via loan spells to Sevilla and Strasbourg, Chelsea’s BlueCo sister club. The contract runs until 2033, and he will join Xabi Alonso’s squad in pre-season.