Napoli Target Chelsea Defender Benoît Badiashile in Potential €30m Move
Italian club steps up interest in French defender as Stamford Bridge departure becomes increasingly likely.
Napoli have emerged as the primary suitors for Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile as the Italian club actively explores a summer move for the French center-back.
According to reports from Foot Mercato, via Get French Football News, the Serie A side has stepped up background work to secure the 25-year-old. La Liga side Real Sociedad are also monitoring Badiashile’s situation, though Napoli currently maintain the strongest interest in concrete negotiations.
Chelsea are understood to be open to a departure for a fee around €30 million. That figure would allow the Premier League club to recoup a significant portion of the €38 million they paid to sign him from AS Monaco in January 2023.
Badiashile’s time at Stamford Bridge has been heavily hindered by recurrent fitness setbacks, preventing him from establishing himself as a regular starter. Left-footed central defenders who possess top-tier European experience remain in high demand, and a transition to Serie A could offer Badiashile the tactical structure needed to reinvigorate his career.
Throughout his three-and-a-half-year stint in West London, Badiashile has recorded 71 total appearances for Chelsea, contributing two goals and one assist. His role diminished noticeably last season, when he was restricted to 16 appearances and just 11 starts across all competitions.
With Badiashile currently out of Chelsea’s immediate tactical plans, a transfer would provide the club with additional flexibility to streamline their squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
