Nigeria-eligible centre-back agrees move to Chelsea as N62.8b deal edges closer
Chelsea are reportedly edging closer to signing Italian-born Nigerian centre-back Honest Ahanor from Atalanta in a deal worth around €40 million (N62.8 billion in Nigerian currency).
According to Italian transfer market guru Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League giants are in advanced talks with Atalanta over the transfer of the highly-rated 18-year-old, who has already given the green light to a move to Stamford Bridge.
Ahanor is not expected to join Chelsea immediately, with the proposed agreement set to see him spend the 2026-27 campaign at another Premier League club.
The move would allow the teenager to continue his development and gain valuable Premier League experience before joining Chelsea in June 2027.
Ahanor featured prominently for Atalanta last season, recording 35 appearances across all competitions and scoring once, while logging 1,902 minutes.
However, he is currently sidelined with a right thigh adductor strain, which forced him to miss the Nerazzurri’s Serie A opener against Sassuolo as well as their Conference League fixture against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Although Ahanor has made two appearances for Italy, he remains eligible to switch his international allegiance to the Super Eagles as both matches he played for the Azzurri came in friendlies.
Earlier in his career, he represented Genoa before transferring to Atalanta in July 2025.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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