Xabi Alonso will debut as Chelsea manager at Stamford Bridge when the Blues take on Real Sociedad in a friendly match this Saturday.
So far, Chelsea’s pre-season has been a mixed bag, with victories over Western Sydney Wanderers and AC Milan, but setbacks against Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur. The team recently drew with Johor Darul Ta’zim, leaving Alonso eager to steer his squad back to winning form at home.
Amidst preparations for the clash at Stamford Bridge, it seems Alonso may be losing a key player to Italy. According to renowned transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Napoli has reached an agreement to sign center-back Benoit Badiashile from Chelsea.
The deal reportedly involves a loan for the upcoming season, with an initial fee around £2.57 million, accompanied by potential add-ons totaling an additional £0.86 million. This move highlights Napoli’s intention to bolster their defensive line.
Furthermore, the Italian club will have the option to make the transfer permanent for approximately £23 million at the end of the season, according to Romano.
Badiashile, 25, joined Chelsea from AS Monaco in 2023 and has since made 71 appearances for the club across all competitions. Despite his solid performances, the Frenchman struggled to secure a regular starting position, featuring in just six of Chelsea’s 38 Premier League matches last season.
His imminent departure follows the exit of Trevoh Chalobah, who has moved to another Italian side, Como. Badiashile’s contract with Chelsea runs until the end of the 2029/30 season, but his future appears to be set in Italy, raising questions about his long-term prospects at Stamford Bridge.
