Strasbourg Pair Set For Medicals
Thursday, 13th Aug 2026 12:20

Town are continuing to make good progress on the signings of Strasbourg pair Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara.

On Tuesday, the Blues agreed terms with the Ligue 1 side, who manager Gary O’Neil was in charge of in the second half of last season, for Paraguayan international Enciso, who spent the second half of 2024/25 on loan at Portman Road.

And yesterday, a deal was struck for Ivorian Ouattara to join him at Town with both players believed to have already agreed personal terms.

We understand the duo are set to undergo medicals with the Blues with the likelihood the moves will be completed in the next 24 hours, although with the additional paperwork relating to overseas signings a potential delay. Neither are expected to be involved at Union Berlin on Saturday.

The pair are believed to be signing five-year deals with Enciso’s fee set to be a new club record eclipsing the £24 million initial sum the Blues paid for striker Emersonn earlier in the summer with some French sources reporting a figure of £26 million.

Twenty-year-old Ouattara is understood to be costing £14 million plus a further £3 million in add-ons.

The Town squad travelled to Germany for their mini-training camp and friendly against the Bundesliga side yesterday with the incoming pair likely to join up with their new teammates on Monday in the week ahead of the opening Premier League game at home to Sunderland.

Photo: Reuters

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Tractorboy58 added 12:21 - Aug 13 Blimey can't keep up with all these new signings ! interesting now as to who leaves to make room
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ITFC_1994 added 12:25 - Aug 13 Massive!!! This window has exceeded expectations and we are not done! The Palacios links make me think we are still in the market for a big marquee signing, crazy. Hopefully the medicals go smoothly, don't see why they shouldn't... Exciting times. Anyone else spent more time on X and TWTD the last few weeks then they have working, or is it just me......
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ITFC_1994 added 12:27 - Aug 13 I really like the fact Enciso is returning here, must have enjoyed his time and felt a connection with the club, which is always great. Most players that succeed here do to be honest- what a club we are hey.
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JPR77 added 12:39 - Aug 13

I'll be glad when this one is done. Two seemingly solid additions, who can make an impact both defensively and offensively, giving us more quality options. I don't believe GON has ever been financially backed like this before. Let's hope he proves his doubters wrong, makes us serious contenders to avoid the drop and we can finally move into more positive prosperous times.

michael_ayers added 12:45 - Aug 13

WOW!
If we don't finish 17th or higher, we can't say we didn't give it a go!
The quality in this squad is remarkable considering its one transfer window.

Of course GON has to get them playing as a team, but what a wonderful selection headache to have!
We may still see some favourites leaving, but a few wins and the excitement of the new players will outweigh that in time as the club has to grow.

I do like and understand the buying policy being a club looking to survive in the Premier league until hopefully we can become a club settled in the Premier league and then our transfer targets become the same as the likes of Brighton and the club record fee will be smashed once more!

Anyone like to list our summer purchases and sales to see how much we have actually spent?

Ebantiass added 12:54 - Aug 13 Good news certainly,hope they both get a good run in the team. With all this optimisum I hope even after a couple of poor resultswe all still back the boys to the hilt. It WILL take time to get these new players to learn eachother on and off the field.
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Lion added 12:54 - Aug 13 I like Strasbourg's kit, not a million miles away from ours, is it....
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bringmeaKuqi added 13:05 - Aug 13 I had thought Ouattara would be coming in as our right back but it seems he mostly plays centre mid. Versatility is key, though, so lots to like here. Enciso's fee is higher than I thought. But 5 years is a great contract - hopefully we're 'well protected' if heaven forbid we do go down again.
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Stato added 13:07 - Aug 13 This is no lionger a McKenna team, it is immediately from the Sunderland game a GON team with gteed more GON signings starting than McKenna signings. This is a change I for one welcome
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RetroBlue added 13:12 - Aug 13 Given our recruitment to date, im actually gob smacked that pundits have us and Hull as dead cert bottom two and yet Coventry MIDTABLE.... really??
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Monkey_Blue added 13:24 - Aug 13 RetroBlue… I’d not seen anyone predicting cov outside of the bottom 3. It’s been a case of us 3 in various orders. The pressure to stay up is more on us than those two just as we are having a second go in three years and with the money we’ve spent we should be well in front of those two pts wise if not place wise.
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notoriousITFC added 13:27 - Aug 13 Love it! Great to see such backing AND seems like we're not done yet either. This feels much better recruitment than last time round. Definitely need an additional CF. If Ouatarra isn't seen as the RB option then that needs filling too. I would have thought another winger if JP is to move on.
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Edmundo added 13:30 - Aug 13 Retroblue - Lampard love-in, isn't it?
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StowTractor added 13:39 - Aug 13

Yes its happening then, medicals permitting. Giving ourselves a fighting chance. Definitely need another no 9 to sign soon to be ready for the Sunderland match. Then possibly 3 more before the window closes. Most pressing a left sided defender as cover or competition for Leif. A more progressive no 8 style centre midfield with goals and assists in their game & (if Jaden goes) one more winger or versatile attacker.

StowTractor added 13:46 - Aug 13

michael_ayers There is an article by Stu Watson in the EADT which says we have spent £106.5m this window (before Enciso was agreed) I think that includes the fees to make Akpom and Kipre permanent deals but excludes any add ons (which presumably wont need to be paid till next summer if we stay up and the players in question meet the performance /appearance targets). So with these TWTD reported fees we'ed be looking to have spent between £145 to £150m. Personally I've seen suggestions that the Enciso fee is closer to £30m (35m Euros) but that could include add ons.

Wickets added 13:47 - Aug 13 Transfer fees certainly seems to have shot up of late but if we can avoid relegation it will certainly be worth it.
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StowTractor added 13:48 - Aug 13 ITFC_1994 no not just you. Although I cant have my phone on during working hours so X / Twitter has replaced sleep in my case.
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michael_ayers added 13:59 - Aug 13

StowTractor Many thanks for your answer, it's unbelievable isn't it.
I remember when Paul Mariner signed and we soon realised what his potential was, now they are coming in groups!
To those worried about if we do get relegated, I would say a lot of these purchases will have a relegation clause, but we aren't looking at that are we.
Do I still keep refreshing TWTD every 2 minutes for more signings or sales, I can't keep up with it! lol.

ThaiBlue added 14:06 - Aug 13 My Brighton pal said enciso is not a great player and hopes we have not paid loads for him as it will be a waste,hope he's wrong
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notoriousITFC added 14:11 - Aug 13 @thaiblue thanks to your Brighton mate but I think we all saw him in the flesh more recently.
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foreverchurchmans added 14:29 - Aug 13

Really good analysis on the BBC website a couple of days ago at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/fo

If you scroll down the item you'll see a brilliant little bar chart that shows our summer spend (£106.6 mln at that point) ranks 4th amongst all time newly promoted teams. The teams above us plus the team ranked 5th have ALL stayed up ... great cause for optimism !

BeattiesBackPocket added 14:32 - Aug 13 Getting quite excited about a front 4 of possibly Maeda, Enciso, Fatawu and Emersson COYB’s!
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BerksBlue15 added 14:39 - Aug 13 GK and Midfield heavily reinforced. Defensively upgraded. Now Enciso up front. At least we're having a good go at compiling a half decent PL team. Can't help but feel we're still just one really top signing away from an absolutely A+++ window but not quite sure who or in what position! COYB - roll on next weekend.
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Linkboy13 added 14:42 - Aug 13 Thaiblue you obviously didn't know he was on loan here season before last and was one of Paraguay best players in the world cup. He's still very young and will only get better.
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tractorboykent added 14:48 - Aug 13 Strasbourg's CFO must dance around the office every time he gets a call or an email from ITFC. I'd be pleased to see Enciiso return but that record breaking price tag is a surprise. The recruitment team and GON obvs think he's improved and has room for plenty more. Let's hope so.
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