Chelsea close to agreeing £16.3m Pep Chavarria deal
Chelsea are set to complete a £16.3million Pep Chavarria deal after making another breakthrough in negotiations with Rayo Vallecano.
The Blues have spent more than a month working on an agreement for Xabi Alonso’s preferred left-back target. The clubs are now finalising the remaining details, with the initial fee understood to be around £16.3m before add-ons.
Sky Sports reports Chelsea are set to clinch the Chavarria signing after identifying the 28-year-old as their preferred replacement for Marc Cucurella.
Pep Chavarria set to join Chelsea for around €19m plus add-ons. If all goes to plan, Chavarria will formalise his move this week. Clubs now in the process of finalising the move.🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/NZDy3dsDVK
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 5, 2026
The latest development moves the transfer another significant step forward.
ReadChelsea reported on Tuesday that Chavarria had agreed personal terms and was waiting for permission to undergo his medical. At that stage, Chelsea and Rayo were still working to settle the final transfer fee.
That figure now appears considerably clearer.
Sky Sports reports Chelsea will pay around €19m (£16.3m) plus add-ons, despite Rayo previously taking a much firmer negotiating position over the defender.
Chavarria would add experience to a position where Alonso currently has Jorrel Hato available as his main senior option.
The Spaniard made 44 appearances in all competitions last season and started Rayo’s Conference League final defeat against Crystal Palace. His energy is one of his standout qualities, while he is comfortable overlapping, moving inside and helping progress possession from the left.
Chelsea have deliberately added more experience this summer alongside their younger signings.
At 28, Chavarria would continue that change in recruitment strategy while also filling one of the clearest remaining gaps in Alonso’s squad.
Only the final details remain before Chelsea can complete another summer signing.
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