Chelsea and Napoli have reached an agreement for Benoit Badiashile to join the Italian club on loan, with Napoli given the option to make the transfer permanent for €27m, according to Foot Mercato.
Napoli will pay €3m for the loan of the 25-year-old France defender. The agreement gives the Serie A club the right to sign Badiashile permanently at the end of the loan for a further €27m.
Badiashile joined Chelsea from Monaco in 2023 in a deal worth €38m. He has since been part of the London club’s defensive options, although his involvement was limited during the most recent season.
The Frenchman made 16 appearances during the campaign and received four yellow cards. His progress was disrupted by muscle injuries, which kept him out for several months at the beginning of the season.
Badiashile was also absent from Chelsea’s squad selections towards the closing stages of the campaign, having stopped being included in the matchday group. The move to Napoli would give him the opportunity to continue his career in Italy while leaving Chelsea with the possibility of receiving €27m if the Italian club chooses to complete the transfer.
The agreement therefore provides Napoli with an initial loan arrangement rather than an immediate permanent signing. Chelsea would receive €3m for the temporary move, while the purchase option would allow Badiashile’s future to be decided after his spell with the Italian club.
Badiashile began his senior club career with Monaco before moving to Chelsea in 2023. His transfer to Stamford Bridge was completed for €38m, and he has subsequently remained under contract with the Premier League club.
At international level, Badiashile has played twice for France. Both of his appearances came in 2022 in the Nations League.
The defender’s proposed move to Napoli follows a season in which injuries and a lack of selection restricted his time on the pitch. While he featured in 16 matches, his absence for several months and his failure to make the squad later in the season limited his regular involvement.
Napoli’s agreement with Chelsea gives the club the chance to assess Badiashile during the loan spell before deciding whether to pay the €27m required to sign him permanently. Chelsea, meanwhile, have agreed terms that include both an immediate loan fee and a purchase option for the defender who arrived from Monaco for €38m.
