Chelsea transfer news: Blues hold positive talks over €80m Sporting CP star Maxi Araujo
Chelsea transfer news: Chelsea’s summer transfer business is shifting into gear, and the newest name on the Stamford Bridge radar should genuinely excite the fans. Reports suggest the club have held productive talks over a move for Sporting CP’s Maxi Araujo. The 26-year-old Uruguayan wide man enjoyed a staggering 2025/26 campaign. Frankly, his numbers look absurd for someone nominally down as a defender.
Araujo moved to Lisbon in August 2024 on a contract running until 2029. That deal includes a hefty €80 million release clause. He plays mostly as a left-back or an aggressive wing-back, but his versatility takes him much further forward than your average full-back. He bagged five goals and created four more in 29 Liga NOS games in the 2025/26 season.
Nine goal involvements are serious output. Statistically, he ranks above the 85th percentile for expected assists across the Portuguese top flight. He is a creator first and foremost, averaging 1.23 key passes a game with a passing accuracy of 84.44 per cent. He tackles hard, finishes cleanly, and has completely outgrown his current surroundings.
From a dead end to a major breakthrough
The initial contact between the two sides happened by accident. Sporting originally approached Chelsea to ask about taking Pedro Neto off their hands. Neto has zero interest in leaving London, but Chelsea’s recruitment team quickly turned the situation to their advantage. They flipped the conversation completely.
Those talks went well. Araujo fits the tactical profile Xabi Alonso demands. He handles multiple roles seamlessly, left-back, wing-back, or even up on the left flank. Portuguese outlet A Bola claims Chelsea are currently frontrunners for his signature. Despite that €80m release clause, a deal could be struck for somewhere between €60m and €70m.
Marc Cucurella’s departure to Real Madrid left a massive void on the left side of the defence. Chelsea desperately need high-calibre cover. Araujo covers every single requirement: pace, direct ball-carrying, quality crossing, and the defensive bite needed to sit in a back three. Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United have checked in on him too, but Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals.
Read: Right option? Chelsea have shortlisted €30m man as Enzo Fernandez’s replacement
Araujo spoke to Portuguese radio recently during Uruguay’s World Cup campaign. He played it safe, saying he is happy at Sporting but noting that nobody knows what the future holds. Standard footballer talk. It was diplomatic, but crucially, he didn’t say no.
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