Chelsea reach agreement to sign €38m-rated Ligue 1 defender

Chelsea have finalised an agreement to sign Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile, as confirmed by  90min. 

After failing to convince RB Leipzig to part ways with Josko Gvardiol in January, Chelsea turned their attention to Badiashile and quickly moved towards a deal which is expected to be worth just over £30m.

Personal terms were not an issue and were addressed early in negotiations, and sources have confirmed to 90min that Chelsea and Monaco have now reached a full agreement over a transfer fee.

Paris Saint-Germain are understood to have shown late interest in the France international but Chelsea have managed to force through the transfer and he will now head to England to undergo a medical.

Should all go according to plan, the 21-year-old will join a back line which already includes Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Cesar Azpilicueta, and offer some much-needed help at the defensive end.

Chelsea kept just their fifth clean sheet of the season against Bournemouth on their return from the World Cup break, a win which ended a run of five games without a victory and eased the pressure on Potter.

Badiashile will not be the only new face at Stamford Bridge this winter. The Blues are pushing to sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is keen to join Chelsea as soon as possible, while deals for David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos are already agreed. A new right-back and striker are also on the wish list.

Chelsea have also finalised an agreement to sign RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku, whose move to Stamford Bridge could be announced soon ahead of a transfer in the summer.