Have Chelsea signed the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Stunning quotes point that way

Robin Bairner

Updated: 19 Nov 2025 11:46 GMT
4 min read

Chelsea’s transfer business for 2026 is already underway, and the Blues could be forgiven that they have signed the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic following a quote from striker Emmanuel Emegha.

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Strasbourg hitman Emegha has already agreed to switch to Stamford Bridge next summer in a trade between BlueCo clubs that has seen the Dutchman draw criticism, but if an entertaining interview in AD is anything to go by, it won’t faze the 22-year-old one bit.

Indeed, the former Sturm Graz striker is unlikely to have pleased with the Strasbourg fans with his latest quote.

Current ETV

Emmanuel Emegha

F (C)

Strasbourg

Emmanuel Emegha

F (C)

Strasbourg

ETV Range

€23.6M - €28.8M

“To be honest, I didn’t even know where it was,” he said. “I thought it was in Germany, but it turned out it was in France. Well, I think everyone knows Strasbourg now!”

Emegha has certainly played his part in propelling Liam Rosenior’s side back to the European stage, and his quote is similar to one made by Sweden great Ibrahimovic during his time with PSG.

“I’ve put France on the world map,” Ibrahimovic, who also turned out for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester United and Barcelona, said back in 2015 in characteristically immodest style.

I believe in the power of the tongue. That's why I'm never afraid to say anything.

- Emmanuel Emegha

Emegha admits that he is similarly outspoken.

Speaking of his call-up to the Netherlands squad, he said: “I believe in the power of the tongue. That's why I'm never afraid to say anything. If you say what you want to achieve, you can achieve it. As long as you believe in it yourself. I'm very proud of myself for achieving this, because I know what it took.”

Areas for improvement

Unlike Ibrahimovic, though, the striker of Nigerian and Togolese ancestry admits there are areas where he can improve in his game.

Emegha said: “Link-up play is something I can improve. I still need to develop that side of my game, because at Strasbourg it is often all about going forward. I am very quick and a good finisher, with both my left and right foot. And I am strong in the air as well, thanks to my height and my jumping ability.”

© IMAGO - Emmanuel Emegha made his Netherlands debut this week

Emanuel Emegha or Emmanuel Emegha? The striker reveals the truth

Emegha and Ibrahimovic have more than just their self-belief in common, though. The future Chelsea star has revealed that he grew up in humble beginnings, growing up sleeping in the same bed as his mother and twin brother. He would later buy a house for his mother in 2023, which was the first the family lived in that did not have litter piled on the front porch.

The Strasbourg striker, meanwhile, has revealed that there is confusion over the spelling of his first name – and the truth behind the mix-up.

“To be honest, I was a bit lazy at school,” Emegha admitted. “I though one ‘m’ was enough and always just wrote ‘Emanuel’ because it was a bit shorter. They adopted it that way in the Sparta Prague youth academy and at school too. But in my passport, it’s spell correctly: Emmanuel. That’s my real name.”

The spelling of Emmanuel had caused a stir in the Netherlands this week due to its spelling on the official release as he was called to Oranje for the first time, but ahead of his Chelsea transfer, the confusion has finally been cleared up.

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