Official: Chelsea announce first Deadline Day signing - but there's a twist

1 Sept 2026 12:12 BST | 4 min read

Xabi Alonso, Honest Ahanor, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

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Chelsea have officially announced the signing of Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, but the Italy international will not join the club until 2027.

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The Blues finalised a deal to sign the 18-year-old last week and they have now formally announced his arrival as their first new signing of Transfer Deadline Day. However, the move will not be completed until next summer in order to bypass Premier League rules.

Current ETV

Honest Ahanor

D (CL)

Atalanta

Honest Ahanor

D (CL)

Atalanta

ETV Range

€21.4M - €26.2M

Ahanor enjoyed an eye-catching debut season at Atalanta last year, following his arrival from Genoa, and he attracted substantial transfer interest from multiple top European clubs before Chelsea struck an agreement to bring him to west London.

The Blues have paid a fee of €48 million for the left-footed defender and they have also agreed to send him on a temporary deal to Crystal Palace for the 2026-27 season as they want him to adapt to English football.

However, Chelsea aren’t actually allowed to loan Ahanor to Palace as Premier League clubs are limited to sending just one player on loan to a fellow English top flight team each season and this slot has already been filled by Axel Disasi.

So, Chelsea have agreed to sign Ahanor in 2027 instead, with the defender set to join Palace on loan directly from Atalanta, before officially moving to Stamford Bridge next summer.

Chelsea Football Club has agreed a deal to sign Italian international Honest Ahanor from Serie A side Atalanta, with the defender officially joining in 2027. 🔵
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2026

Chelsea are also set to finalise a deal for either Lamine Camara (AS Monaco) or Manu Kone (AS Roma) before the window closes, with the club ramping up talks to sign a new midfielder as they brace for Enzo Fernandez’s blockbuster move to Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the Blues are expected to sell Tosin Adarabioyo to Tottenham Hotspur, while Mykhailo Mudryk, Robert Sanchez, Shumaira Mheuka, and potentially Jamie Gittens, Dario Essugo, Kendry Paez and Landon Emenalo are set to leave the club on loan before the end of Deadline Day.

Honest Ahanor joins Chelsea - via Crystal Palace

Neither Atalanta or Chelsea mentioned his imminent loan move to Crystal Palace, while Pierre Sage’s side are also yet to officially confirm his arrival on a temporary deal.

Atalanta’s club statement read: “Atalanta BC can confirm that an agreement has been reached for the transfer of Honest Ahanor to Chelsea FC. Under the terms of the agreement, the player will join the Blues in 2027.

“The Percassi family, the Pagliuca family and everyone at the Club thank Honest and wish him all the very best for his personal and professional future.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea wrote: “Chelsea has agreed a deal to sign Italian international Honest Ahanor from Serie A side Atalanta, with the defender officially joining in 2027.

“Ahanor, 18, made 35 appearances for Atalanta last campaign, his first season in Bergamo having arrived from Genoa in July 2025, and his excellent form at club level saw him earn his first two senior appearances for the Italian national team back in June.”

However, Ahanor is set to be unveiled as Palace’s latest signing before the end of Deadline Day and he will compete with Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oscar Mingueza and Disasi for a starting XI place at Selhurst Park.