Chelsea
have completed the signing of Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile in a £35m
deal on a seven-and-a-half-year contract.
Sky Sports News reported in late December the west London club were in
advanced talks over a deal for the 21-year-old France international and the
player completed his switch to Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Badiashile is considered one of the best young left-footed centre-backs in
Europe and this has been a profile of player Chelsea have wanted since the
summer.
"I'm very happy to be here at Chelsea. I'm so excited to start playing for
this club," Badiashile said.
"I can't wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the
world."
Badiashile completed his medical on Monday and becomes Chelsea's second
signing of the January transfer window, following the arrival of David Datro
Fofana from Molde. The Blues also gave a medical to 18-year-old Vasco da
Gama midfielder Andrey Santos on Saturday.
Since Todd Boehly took control of Chelsea in May 2022, the club have pursued
a strategy of signing talented young players. Wesley Fofana (21), Carney
Chukwuemeka (19), Cesare Casadei (19), Fofana (20) and Gabriel Slonina (18)
have all joined the club.
In a joint statement, chairman Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad
Eghbali said: "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."
After making his Monaco debut at the age of 17 in 2018, Badiashile went on
to make 135 appearances for his boyhood club. The 6ft 4in defender made his
full international debut for France in September 2022, but did not make
Didier Deschamps' squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
Chelsea have fallen to 10th in the Premier League after managing just one
win in seven games either side of the World Cup, but could move up to
seventh with a win over reigning champions Manchester City on Thursday
night, live on Sky Sports.
Badiashile's first opportunity to play could come on Sunday in the FA Cup,
when Chelsea take on the same opposition in Manchester, while his Premier
League debut could come in a west London derby at Fulham on January 12, also
live on Sky Sports.
Analysis: 'Tailor-made for the Premier
League'
French Football expert Jonathan Johnson:
"He's a very talented player. Someone who I fully expect to develop into a
top defender in the future. I wouldn't say he's as 'Premier League ready' as
some of the players we've seen come from France to Premier League sides in
the past.
"I don't think he's at the level of a (William) Saliba or (Wesley) Fofana
just yet. I'd liken him more to a polished version of Kurt Zouma, when Zouma
arrived in the Premier League. He will need time to develop, but he has the
attributes to succeed.
"His build lends itself to being good in the air, he's comfortable with the
ball at his feet and reads the ball really well. He's somebody who I do
think would be tailor-made for the Premier League."
Carra: Chelsea are trying to buy every
player in the world
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"Chelsea may be the busiest team in this January transfer window - because
every time I pick up a paper I see they're signing someone!
"It feels like they're going for every player in the world! It seems to take
me back to when Roman Abramovich first came in and I thought with him
leaving the club, it might be the end of that. But it doesn't seem to be the
case, certainly with the new regime at Chelsea.
"It looks like they're trying to throw their money around to try and get in
the best players to the club, which is what Chelsea are used to in the last
10 to 15 years. I thought it may stop a little, it looks like Todd Boehly is
scouting the air for players and I expect them to be busy."
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