Badiashile and Napoli finalizing details before Chelsea exit
Quick summary
Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile and Napoli are making final decisions ahead of a potential loan or permanent move, with negotiations reportedly advancing.
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Attributed to original sourceNapoli hope to have Benoit Badiashile for their Serie A opener next weekend, but Aurelio De Laurentiis needs to approve an extra Chelsea bonus, and the player is reportedly hesitating too.
Multiple sources in Italy, England and France reported on Thursday that the deal was done , for a loan at €3m plus €1m bonus, then an option to buy for a further €27m.
However, the defender still has not been given the all clear to travel to Italy for the medical tests.
Badiashile delay for Napoli COBHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 27: Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea warms up during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on January 27, 2026 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images) There might be two reasons at play here, as Sky Sport Italia claim Napoli President De Laurentiis still needs to accept the terms of the €1m bonus payment, which was not part of the original agreement.
Indeed, the costs look considerably higher than the €18-20m proposal that had been made just a few days ago.
On top of that, L’Equipe suggest that Badiashile has not yet accepted the personal terms and is not entirely convinced about this transfer to Napoli.
The 25-year-old had been a big €38m investment when Chelsea bought him from AS Monaco in January 2023, but he made only 16 competitive appearances last season.
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What happened
Benoit Badiashile looks set to leave Chelsea in the current window, with Serie A side Napoli emerging as the most likely destination. Reports indicate both player and club are in the final stages of discussions, with the deal expected to take shape shortly. Badiashile has struggled for regular minutes at Chelsea and a move would provide him with first-team football. Napoli are looking to strengthen their defensive options as they aim to compete on multiple fronts.
Chance analysis
This transfer is significant for Chelsea as Badiashile, a young French centre-back signed for around £38m from Monaco, has not developed as expected at Stamford Bridge. Offloading him—whether on loan or permanently—frees up squad space and wages. For Napoli, adding a Premier League-experienced centre-back would reinforce a defense that has been inconsistent. The move suggests Chelsea are accelerating a defensive reshuffle.
Chelsea lose a squad centre-back with potential for further first-team minutes; Napoli gain defensive reinforcement if deal completes.