Badiashile passes medical and meets squad as Napoli close in on Chelsea defender
Quick summary
Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile has passed his medical and met the Napoli squad as the Serie A club close in on a transfer for the French centre-back.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceBenoit Badiashile has completed his medical with Napoli and travelled to join the rest of the squad, moving the club a step closer to confirming the Chelsea defender’s arrival.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the Frenchman passed the second stage of his examinations, cardiology tests, at Villa Stuart in Rome on Wednesday, having already cleared the first part on Tuesday.
The move is a paid loan worth €3m for the season, with Aurelio De Laurentiis holding the option to make it permanent in June 2027 for a further €27m. Badiashile then travelled on to Naples, where he linked up with his new team-mates in the afternoon following a morning training session at Castel Volturno.
Massimiliano Allegri is expected to assess him on the training pitch before deciding how he fits into the defence, with a press conference set for Thursday ahead of Napoli’s season opener away at Genoa.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 20: Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea looks on during a Chelsea FC Training Session at Chelsea Training Ground on January 20, 2026 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images) Politano: ‘With Badiashile and Favasuli we’re very competitive’ Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss, Matteo Politano gave his own take on the club’s summer business, welcoming the depth Badiashile and fellow new arrival Alessio Favasuli add to the squad.
“The fans at our training camp were very close to the team. We’re preparing as best we can and we’re certain we’ll be ready. We’ve worked well this month, the team is strong, with the additions of Badiashile and Favasuli we’re very competitive.”
He also praised Allegri’s man-management, crediting the coach’s direct approach for getting the best out of the squad: “Allegri cares a lot about working well, about making the most of each player’s characteristics. The boss talks a lot with each of us, he’s always direct, he always brings out the best in us.”
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What happened
Napoli are on the verge of completing a move for Chelsea centre-back Benoît Badiashile. The French defender has reportedly passed his medical examinations and has already met his potential new teammates at the Italian club. Badiashile has struggled for regular playing time at Chelsea and is set to seek a fresh start in Serie A under Napoli's management. The deal, which could be a loan or permanent transfer, would provide Napoli with defensive reinforcement during the January transfer window.
Chance analysis
Badiashile's impending move to Napoli reflects Chelsea's continued squad trimming and Napoli's push to bolster their back line. For Chelsea, offloading a player who has not established himself in the first-team picture eases squad registration and wage concerns. For Napoli, adding a young, technically capable French international provides depth and competition in central defence, potentially reshaping their defensive options for the second half of the season.
Chelsea lose a squad centre-back with limited first-team impact, while Napoli gain defensive depth ahead of the second half of the season.