Atalanta prepare €40m Rowe bid as Chelsea sign Ahanor
Quick summary
Atalanta are set to increase their offer for Rowe to €40m, while Chelsea complete the signing of Ahanor.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAtalanta are ready to offer €40m for Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe, funded by the sale of Honest Ahanor to Chelsea for €48m and Conference League qualification.
La Dea have been chasing Rowe for most of the summer and saw several proposals turned down, as Bologna feel they cannot sell another top player after losing Santiago Castro to Roma and Jhon Lucumi to Juventus.
Atalanta edge closer to Rowe BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Jonathan Rowe of Bologna reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Bologna FC 1909 and SK Brann at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 26, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) There are now two developments that can shift the situation, because this evening Atalanta beat Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1-0 on aggregate to guarantee qualification to the Conference League.
Before that match kicked off in Hungary, director of sport Cristiano Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia about the state of negotiations for the sale of Ahanor to Chelsea.
“Don’t say anything unless it’s in the bag. We are talking to Chelsea, tomorrow could be a very important day,” said Giuntoli.
Coach Maurizio Sarri and director Cristiano Giuntoli (@atalanta_bc) It is widely reported that a deal has been reached to sell the teenage defender for €48m including add-ons, even though Chelsea are likely to immediately loan him out to another Premier League side.
Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia are confident these two developments will allow Atalanta to go all in for Rowe, offering around €40m including performance related bonuses.
BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Atalanta looks on before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Bologna are starting to consider the possibility, as they have looked at Albert Gudmundsson of Fiorentina as a potential replacement for the English winger.
So far, however, the Rossoblu are in no hurry to let this move go through.
Sportitalia note other potential candidates include Othane Maamma of Watford.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Atalanta are preparing to raise their bid for Rowe to €40m as they look to secure the player. Meanwhile, Chelsea have completed a deal to sign Ahanor, adding to their summer transfer activity. Both moves reflect continued aggressive spending in the transfer market by Premier League and Serie A clubs.
Chance analysis
Atalanta's willingness to push toward €40m for Rowe signals how competitive the market has become for emerging talent, even for clubs operating outside the Premier League's financial orbit. Chelsea's acquisition of Ahanor adds another young piece to their long-term project, continuing the pattern of stockpulating promising prospects. Together, the two stories underline how the summer window is shaping up as a battleground for next-generation players, with Italian and English clubs increasingly going head-to-head.
Chelsea add a new player in Ahanor, while Atalanta's pursuit of Rowe intensifies with an upgraded €40m offer.