Chelsea edge closer to selling €37m signing as Xabi Alonso wields the axe

Updated: 28 Jul 2026 08:47 BST | 4 min read

Matthew Judge | Editor

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Benoit Badiashile has moved a step closer to leaving Chelsea after they opened talks with Napoli over a potential deal, according to reports in Italy.

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Italian reporter Luca Cerchione claims Napoli are hoping to reach an agreement to sign Badiashile on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy next summer.

Cerchione was the first to break the news that the Blues were interested in signing Marco Palestra from Atalanta in June.

Italy wing-back Palestra moved to Stamford Bridge just over a week later, signing a seven-year contract through to 2033 on 1 July.

Should Chelsea and Napoli agree a deal for Badiashile, the defender would join Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Alejandro Garnacho in leaving west London this summer.

The Times understands Chelsea are expected to generate over €350million (£300m) in sales ahead of Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge.

An alternative report from BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella claims Chelsea are looking to offload two strikers as part of their selling strategy.

The same report understands Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu are likely to be the ones departing, though Liam Delap’s future is also uncertain.

Badiashile has struggled since joining Chelsea

Badiashile joined Chelsea from Ligue 1 side Monaco in January 2023, in a deal which - according to The Guardian - was worth €37m (£31.6m).

The 25-year-old has struggled for form and fitness in England, however, making just 71 appearances in three-and-a-half seasons at Chelsea.

Badiashile was part of the Chelsea squad that won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup double under Enzo Maresca in 2025.

He has also received two caps for France, making his debut against Austria in a UEFA Nations League clash in September 2022.

Alonso looking to shorten Chelsea squad ahead of 26-27

Speaking before Chelsea’s pre-season clash with Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, Alonso confirmed his desire to trim down his squad.

He told reporters: ”We need to know that probably there will still be some movements. We need to be flexible and quick to act. The main thing is that we have a clear idea, a clear plan that we have built. Probably it will change until the last day of the market being open.”

And when asked how many players he would like in his Chelsea squad, the Spaniard added: “Not too long, not too short, what is the number? I can't give you that number.

“But for sure, we need to have options because you know that we could be unlucky with injuries so we need to prepare for that.

“We can have different circumstances. We need to manage minutes. We have two cups as well, so we need to fight for them as hard as in the Premier League.

“Once we get the right balance in terms of qualities, personalities, maturity moments, hopefully we are looking at that when we start the first Premier League game in August.”