Chelsea 'very close' to transfer agreement after Alonso request

3 Aug 2026 14:56 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Chelsea are reportedly “very close” to finalising an agreement to send Benoit Badiashile on loan to Napoli with an option to buy.

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The Frenchman is one of several stars expected to depart Stamford Bridge before the end of the summer transfer window and he was excluded from the Blues’ squad for their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia as a result.

Current ETV

Benoît Badiashile

D (C)

Chelsea

Benoît Badiashile

D (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€17.4M - €21.3M

Badiashile played just 16 times across all competitions for Chelsea last season, and he failed to make another Premier League appearance after being hooked at half-time against West Ham United on 31 January.

The 25-year-old was subsequently omitted from Chelsea’s matchday squad for their final eight league fixtures of the campaign, and he is now on the verge of leaving the club on a temporary deal.

That is according to renowned French publication L’Equipe, who report that Napoli are “very close” to signing him on an initial loan deal with an option to buy.

Juventus are also keen to secure Badiashile’s signature, and are yet to give up hope, but the ex-France international has already spoken to Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri and he is close to formally completing a move to the Serie A club.

© IMAGO - Benoit Badiashile is set to join Napoli

Who else will leave Chelsea this summer?

Chelsea were initially eager to offload Badiashile on a permanent deal this summer, but they have relaxed their stance and are now edging closer to finalising his departure on loan for the duration of the 2026-27 season.

Fellow centre-backs Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah are expected to be sold by Chelsea before the window closes on 1 September, while Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino are both set to be sent out on loan following the signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.

It comes after Xabi Alonso confirmed that he wants at least five centre-backs to leave the club before the window closes.

Midfielder Dario Essugo has also been linked with a loan move after the arrival of Strasbourg star Valentin Barco, but he could be forced to remain at the club due to the uncertain future of Enzo Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are expected to sell two of Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha before the window closes, after signing Danny Welbeck, with Marc Guiu and David Datro Fofana also set to leave the club this summer.

Mykhailo Mudryk is set for a loan move after returning from his doping suspension, and questions around Malo Gusto’s future at Stamford Bridge are likely to re-emerge when he links up with the squad following his participation at the World Cup.