Chelsea has completed the signing of Benoit Badiashile from Monaco for £35m and signs a seven-and-a-half-year contract. Since the summer, Chelsea has been interested in Badiashile, who is regarded as one of the top young left-footed center-backs in Europe. Following Molde’s acquisition of David Datro Fofana in the January transfer window, Badiashile passed his physical on Monday and joined Chelsea. On Saturday, the Blues also examined midfielder Andrey Santos, who is 18 and plays for Vasco do Gama. Since Todd Boehly became the club’s owner in May 2022, Chelsea has adopted a policy of bringing in young, skilled players. The club now includes Wesley Fofana (age 21), Carney Chukwuemeka (19), Cesare Casadei (19), Fofana (20), and Gabriel Slonina (18).
“I’m overjoyed to be at Chelsea. I can’t wait to begin playing for this club,” Benoit Badiashile said after completing his move to Chelsea. “I’m eager to meet the supporters and begin competing in the top league in the world.”
“Benoit has been warmly welcomed at Chelsea,” Todd Boehly said. “He’s a great young player who, despite his youth, has a tonne of experience and has swiftly built a solid reputation for himself. He will undoubtedly play a significant role on our squad moving forward.”
Badiashile made his Monaco debut in 2018 at the age of 17 and went on to make 135 appearances for his old team. Although the 6-foot-4-inch defender made his full international debut for France in September 2022, Didier Deschamps did not include him in his World Cup roster for Qatar. With just one victory in its last seven games, Chelsea has dropped to 10th place in the Premier League. However, a victory over Manchester City on Thursday night might bring them up to eighth. When Chelsea plays the same opposition in Manchester on Sunday in the FA Cup, Badiashile might get his first chance to play.
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