Chelsea have agreed a £35 million deal to sign Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, and he will undergo a medical on Monday.
Sky Sports News reported in late December that the West London club were in advanced talks with the 21-year-old Frenchman.
Badiashile is regarded as one of the best young left-footed centre-backs in Europe and has been a sign of a player Chelsea have wanted since the summer.
Chelsea also gave 18-year-old Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos a medical on Saturday.
Ever since Todd Boehly took over at Chelsea in May 2022, the club has pursued a strategy of signing talented young players. Wesley Fofana (21), Carney Chukwuemeka (19), Cesare Casadei (19), David Datro Fofana (20) and Gabriel Slonina (18) have all signed for the club.
Badiashile (right) played 135 times for Monaco despite being just 21 years old
Analysis: ‘Made for the Premier League’
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France football expert Jonathan Johnson looks at transfer rumors surrounding Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile and a possible move to Chelsea – but could the French club sell?
French football expert Jonathan Johnson:
“He’s a very talented player, someone I fully expect to develop into a top defender in the future, I wouldn’t say he’s as ‘Premier League ready’ as some of the players we’ve seen come from France to Premier League clubs. before.
“I don’t think he’s at level A [William] Crucifixion or [Wesley] Fofana still. I would compare him more to the Kurt Zouma type, when Zouma came to the Premier League. He will need time to develop, but he has the qualities to succeed.
“His build is trying to be good in the air, he is comfortable with the ball on his feet and he reads the ball well. He is someone who I think can be sewn into the Premier League.”
Arra: Chelsea are trying to buy every player in the world
Jamie Carragher of Sky Sports:
“Chelsea might be the busiest club in the January transfer window – because every time I pick up a paper I see they’re signing someone!
“It seems they are going for every player in the world! It seems to take me back to when Roman Abramovich first came in and I thought by him leaving the club, maybe that would be the end of it. But it didn’t. That seems to be the case, certainly with Chelsea’s new regime.
“It looks like they are trying to throw their money around to try to get the best players into the club, which is what Chelsea have learned over the last ten to 15 years. I thought it could stand a bit. It looks like Todd Boehly is watching the players in the air, and I think they’re busy.”
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