BERGAMO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 05: Francisco Conceicao of Juventus is challenged by Honest Ahanor of Atalanta during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 05: Francisco Conceicao of Juventus is challenged by Honest Ahanor of Atalanta during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chelsea are making significant progress towards signing Honest Ahanor, with a deal worth around €40m taking shape.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, citing Sky Sport Italia, direct talks between the London club and Atalanta have advanced decisively, with personal terms in the process of being finalised.
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Gustav Isaksen of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Honest Ahanor of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Gustav Isaksen of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Honest Ahanor of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
The report suggests the operation could be concluded by Friday.
Chelsea return to Atalanta for Ahanor after Palestra deal
The move would extend a productive relationship between the two clubs, Chelsea having already signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta this summer.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Marco Palestra of Chelsea FC heads the ball during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Marco Palestra of Chelsea FC heads the ball during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
The proposed fee would represent a substantial profit for the Bergamo club, who signed Ahanor from Genoa only last summer for €16m plus €4m in add-ons. It nonetheless falls short of the €60m-plus figure reported in Italy as Atalanta’s asking price, and sits only marginally above the €34m bid from Brighton they rejected earlier in the window.
Ahanor, an Italy international born in February 2008, made 28 Serie A appearances in his debut season at the Gewiss Stadium and featured in the Champions League.