Chelsea have signed French defender, Benoit Badiashile in a £32.7m transfer from AS Monaco on a seven-and-a-half year contract.
Badiashile is a left-sided centre-back who will strengthen the central defensive options available for manager – Graham Potter, with Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana – currently out with a knee injury – his only current main options.
Potter though currently has alternate centre-back options in; Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marc Cucurella, although the trio are better utilised in the full-back or wing-back positions than within central defence.
Chelsea’s decision to sign Badiashile therefore will improve Potter’s tactical options within central defence without compromising availability in the full-back role, with James and Ben Chilwell both having struggled with injuries this season.
Badiashile’s arrival also comes amidst rumours again linking Chelsea with Croatia defender, Josko Gvardiol who had agreed personal terms in the summer, only for the Blues and RB Leipzig to fail to agree terms over the transfer deal.
Should Chelsea however decide to make another move for Gvardiol following completion of Badiashile’s transfer, the Blues now face a battle to secure the Croatian after Gvardiol’s World Cup exploits lifted his transfer value to new heights.
Speaking about his decision to join Chelsea on a six-and-a-half year contract until June 2029, Badiashile said: “I’m very happy to be here at Chelsea. I’m so excited to start playing for this club. I can’t wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the world.”
Chelsea Chairman, Todd Boehly and co-controlling owner, Behdad Eghbali added: “We’re delighted to welcome Benoit to Chelsea. He’s an excellent young player who has quickly established a strong reputation for himself and has a huge amount of experience for his young age.
“We are sure he will form an important part of our team in the years ahead.’
Across five seasons for AS Monaco, Badiashile scored six goals in 136 appearances for the Ligue 1 club – having graduated through their youth academy,
The 21 year-old also boasts international experience after having received his maiden call-up to France’s senior national team in September 2022, during which he completed 90 minutes each against Austria and Denmark in their final UEFA Nations League matches.
Badiashile could make his debut for Chelsea away at Manchester City on Sunday 8 January in the Third Round of this season’s FA Cup, live on BBC One with a 4:30pm GMT kick-off.
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