Chelsea Agree £40m Honest Ahanor Deal With Palace Loan First

Chelsea have agreed a deal worth up to £40 million for Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, according to BBC Sport. The 18-year-old Italy international will not move directly to Stamford Bridge, however. He is set to spend the remainder of the current campaign on loan at Crystal Palace before officially joining Chelsea next summer.

The arrangement gives Palace the defender for this season while Chelsea secure his longer-term move from Atalanta. BBC Sport reported that Chelsea first showed interest in Ahanor when the club signed right-back Marco Palestra from the same Serie A side in July. Ahanor primarily operates at left-back.

Atalanta had already rejected an offer for Ahanor earlier in the summer. According to BBC Sport, Brighton submitted a bid of £29 million, equivalent to 34 million euros, but the Italian club turned it down before Chelsea reached their agreement for the defender.

Ahanor joined Atalanta from Genoa last summer on a three-year contract. The reported fee for that move was 16 million euros, with a further 4 million euros in potential add-ons. He then established himself as a regular starter, making 28 Serie A appearances for Atalanta last season.

His campaign also included a Champions League debut. Ahanor featured as Atalanta beat Club Brugge 2-1 last September, adding European competition to his first-team experience. In May, he received a call-up to the Italy squad for friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece.

The agreement forms part of Chelsea's squad-building since Xabi Alonso became head coach in July. BBC Sport noted that Chelsea have also signed England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a club-record £117 million, while adding Premier League experience through Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.

Chelsea have also completed an outgoing deal involving striker Marc Guiu. The 20-year-old has joined RB Leipzig in a transfer worth £14.6 million including add-ons, according to the same report. Guiu arrived from Barcelona in July 2024 and made 29 first-team appearances for Chelsea, scoring eight goals.