Baturina Gets New Teammate from Chelsea
Trevoh Chalobah leaves Stamford Bridge after nearly two decades to join Como for over €35 million, while Chelsea under Xabi Alonso continues to reshape their defense.
Trevoh Chalobah leaves Stamford Bridge after nearly two decades to join Como for over €35 million, while Chelsea under Xabi Alonso continues to reshape their defense.
Como, the club where Croatian international Martin Baturina plays, has managed to secure the signing of English center-back Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea. The transfer fee exceeds €35 million, and the 27-year-old defender is expected to take on a key role in the Italian side, signing a multi-year deal with the club led by Cesc Fàbregas.
Last season was exceptionally successful for Como, who finished fourth in Serie A and thus secured a spot in the Champions League. The London club will immediately receive around €30 million, with the potential to earn an additional €6 million through bonuses. The agreement was finalized after lengthy negotiations, with the total sum almost fully matching Chelsea's demands of around €35 million plus €6 million in add-ons.
According to Sportklub, the Spanish tactician at Como's helm has been tracking Chalobah for over six months and has long expressed his desire to have him in his dressing room. Inter Milan were also interested in the English international, but Como ultimately won the race for his signature.
Chalobah thus leaves the environment where he spent nearly two decades, having joined Chelsea's academy as a child. His departure fits into the squad reduction strategy being implemented by new coach Xabi Alonso.
The London club has already brought in 26-year-old Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace this summer for around €61 million, adding extra experience and height to their defense. Despite that, Chelsea still has as many as nine center-backs in the first team: Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Benoît Badiashile, Aaron Anselmino, Axel Disasi, Mamadou Sarr, and Lacroix.
There are plans to sell Disasi and Badiashile, while Sarr or Acheampong could go out on loan, potentially to another Premier League club. Meanwhile, Goal.com reports that Chelsea has reached an agreement with Rayo Vallecano for Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria. The transfer is valued at around €25 million, and the player has already been given permission to travel to London for a medical.
Chavarria arrives as a replacement for Marc Cucurella, who has continued his career at Real Madrid. Alonso wanted a ready-made player for the left-back position and concluded that Chavarria is the best solution for that role. With his signing, Chelsea is changing its approach to the market, in recent seasons they have turned to young talents, whereas now they are bringing in a player ready to step straight into the starting lineup, rather than just develop for the future.
