Chelsea have reached an agreement with Monaco to sign 22-year-old midfielder Lamine Camara in a deal worth €55m, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano.
The move had appeared close to collapsing, but Monaco have now agreed to sell the Senegalese midfielder to the Premier League club. The agreement brings Camara closer to completing a move to Chelsea after negotiations between the two clubs came close to breaking down.
Camara is expected to undergo a medical in the near future before signing his contract with the Blues. Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that the proposed deal will run for six years and will include an option for it to be automatically extended by a further 12 months.
The transfer fee agreed by Chelsea and Monaco is €55m. No further details about the structure of the payment or additional conditions have been reported.
Camara joined Monaco from Metz two years ago and has since made 75 appearances for the club. During that time, he has scored six goals and provided 11 assists.
The midfielder’s move to Chelsea remains subject to the completion of his medical and the signing of the contract. Barring any further complications, those steps will formally complete his transfer from Monaco.
Camara’s reported arrival would add another midfielder to Chelsea’s squad, although the agreement was only reached after the deal came close to failing. Monaco ultimately accepted the proposal for the player, allowing the transfer to proceed.
Romano was the source of the information about the clubs agreeing the €55m fee, while Jacobs provided details of the expected six-year contract and the additional year option.
Camara’s record at Monaco stands at six goals and 11 assists in 75 matches since his move from Metz. Those figures cover his two years with the club before his proposed transfer to Chelsea.
