Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Benoit Badiashile looks set to become Chelsea’s first departure in the final two weeks of the transfer window, with Xabi Alonso set to orchestrate a fire sale of unwanted Blues players.
The likes of Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto, Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu and plenty of other Chelsea players are set to depart. Chelsea need to get rid of four or five centre-backs.
Tosin Adarabioyo has interest from Marseille and Benfica, while Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr are set to go on loan. Badiashile, meanwhile, is due to have a medical at Napoli on Tuesday ahead of a loan.
A deal has been agreed which will see Chelsea receive around £2.5m up front, while a permanent option of £22.5m is set to be included. But where did it all go wrong for Badiashile after his move from Monaco?
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The first six months and Benoit Badiashile’s hamstring injury
Joining from Monaco in January 2023, Badiashile made a quick impression as Chelsea’s left-footed centre-back. He played 11 times in the Premier League during the second half of the 2022-23 season.
But towards the end of the campaign, injury struck. The defender suffered a hamstring injury, and while it did not require an operation, it saw him miss six months from May 2023 until the end of the year.
Benoît Badiashile of Chelsea
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Missing pre-season that year impacted his form; Badiashile managed just 18 Premier League appearances throughout the whole season under Mauricio Pochettino. He fell down the Chelsea pecking order.
The Enzo Maresca era saw Badiashile play even less
Previously an asset of Badiashile’s, the defender lost composure and concentration on the ball and started to make high-profile mistakes when given a chance. During 2024-25, Badiashile played five league games.
He did, however, play 13 times in the Conference League for Chelsea that season. Ultimately, Maresca did not see Badiashile as anything more than a back-up defender, and that summer, a sale was expected.
Liam Rosenior gave him a chance but he flopped
Throughout 2025-26, Badiashile managed just 16 appearances even with Levi Colwill sidelined. Only eight of those came in the Premier League, but even under Liam Rosenior, Badiashile failed to take his chance.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea react
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
A mistake during the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park saw Rosenior drop Badiashile, and the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana were preferred. Finally, this summer, an exit is imminent.
Ultimately, his injury back in 2023 prevented Badiashile from ever getting back to his best, and the reason Chelsea paid north of £30m to sign him. The competition then proved too much for Badiashile.
With Maxence Lacroix signed and Levi Colwill easily the club’s best left-footed centre-back, an exit has been written on the wall for a while. Hopefully he can regain some confidence with Napoli next season.