Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Benoit Badiashile from Monaco for an initial fee of around £34million. The defender becomes the Blues' second addition of the January transfer window, with David Datro Fofana having already arrived from Molde.
Badiashile was among the list of central defensive targets drawn up by Chelsea in the summer following an impressive 2021/22 campaign in Ligue 1. However, with the support of then-head coach Thomas Tuchel, the club instead pursued and completed deals for Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana.
Much has changed at Stamford Bridge in the months since but Chelsea's interest in Badiashile, who made his debut for the French senior side in September, remained. And ahead of the Christmas period, the Blues held talks with Monaco over a deal for the 21-year-old.
