Emanuel Emegha booed by Strasbourg fans after Chelsea transfer; manager condemns treatment

Emanuel Emegha, the Strasbourg captain whose move to Chelsea was announced earlier this week, was booed by a section of his own supporters on Sunday as the Ligue 1 club prepared to host Le Havre.

The Dutch forward, 22, was not in Strasbourg's matchday squad because of injury but was awarded the club's Player of the Month prize before the game and was loudly heckled as he accepted the award. Ultras also displayed a banner reading: "Emegha, pawn of BlueCo. After changing shirt, give back your captain's armband."

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior described the reception as "unacceptable" and said both he and Emegha had been left "devastated" by the treatment. Speaking to the club's media team after the 1-0 victory, Rosenior said, "I am very disappointed by what I saw. Seeing a banner against one of last season's best players is unacceptable. My players deserve much better. They have an impeccable attitude and do not deserve this treatment." He added that Emegha would remain captain for the duration of his stay at the club.

Emegha told L'Equipe this summer that the move was "the best thing for my career: I want to go as high as possible, play in the Champions League, the World Cup." The striker said he could have joined clubs already in the Champions League but that the combined project of Strasbourg and Chelsea appealed to him and that he intended to "give everything for the club this season."

Chelsea and Strasbourg are part of a network of clubs linked to BlueCo, the ownership group of the Premier League side, and the two clubs have completed several transfers involving each other this year. Chelsea fended off reported interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest for Emegha before agreeing terms with Strasbourg. The transfer was announced with the player to remain at Strasbourg until next summer, when he will join Chelsea after the current season.

Earlier this summer Chelsea loaned left back Ben Chilwell to Strasbourg, and they signed Strasbourg centre back Mamadou Sarr in June only to immediately loan him back to the French side. Academy prospect Ishe Samuels-Smith was also the subject of a transfer arrangement between the clubs.

Emegha began his senior career at Sparta Rotterdam and had spells with Royal Antwerp and Sturm Graz before joining Strasbourg two years ago. Since signing for the Ligue 1 club he has scored 26 goals in 64 appearances in all competitions and has captained the team into a season that includes European competition.

Rosenior said the hostile reception came from a minority of supporters and would not affect the squad's focus. "It won't change anything because I remain very proud of my players and Emanuel Emegha will remain captain as long as he is here," he said. The fee Chelsea paid to Strasbourg was not disclosed.