The latest on Chelsea's ongoing pursuit of Rayo Vallecano left back Pep Chavarria with the Blues now pushing forward with their interest in the Spanish defender
15:50, 30 Jun 2026Updated 15:58, 30 Jun 2026
Xabi Alonso looks on
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Chelsea and Xabi Alonso are looking to build a squad to compete in his debut season at Stamford Bridge(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)
Chelsea have opened club-to-club negotiations with Rayo Vallecano in an attempt to sign left back Pep Chavarria.
The Blues are interested in striking a deal for the 28-year-old defender following the departure of Marc Cucurella a few weeks ago. Cucurella completed a £52million move to Real Madrid, leaving new manager Xabi Alonso short of options on the left-hand side of defence.
The west Londoners, sources say, have now opened dialogue with Rayo over a possible move for Chavarria, who still has four years remaining on his contract with last season's Conference League runners-up. Sources dismissed the notion that the Spaniard would act as a direct replacement for the departed Cucurella and instead insisted that Jorrel Hato will take up a more senior role within the squad under Alonso.
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Hato, who signed for Chelsea last summer from Ajax for £37m, took a while to get going at Stamford Bridge but his improvement in the second half of his debut season left Blues chiefs impressed. The Netherlands international is set to deputise from Cucurella's departure on the left-hand side of defence, with Chavarria, if he is indeed signed, another option there as well.
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Chavarria featured 44 times for Rayo in all competitions last season to help the Spanish side reach the final of the Conference League, as well as finish in eighth-place in La Liga. The Rayo defender can play at left back and as a wing back.
After already adding Marco Palestra from Atalanta (club confirmation pending), Chelsea are looking to make Chavarria the club's second signing of the Alonso era. Not including, of course, the pre-agreed deals from before Alonso's time.