Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco for €55million after a dramatic late breakthrough in their search for an Enzo Fernandez replacement.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea have now been given authorisation for Camara to travel for his medical, with the clubs working to complete the remaining formalities before the transfer deadline.
The agreement represents a remarkable turnaround after Chelsea had two bids rejected for the Senegal international earlier on deadline day.
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea agree deal in principle to sign Lamine Camara from AS Monaco, here we go! 💣
Fee worth €55m and authorization to travel for medical. Initial agreement done now running in order to complete medical and formal steps in time.
(@FabrizioRomano) #CFC pic.twitter.com/yx2ehLsp1C
— ChelseaReport (@chelsreport_) September 1, 2026
Chelsea agree €55m Lamine Camara transfer
Chelsea initially struggled to convince Monaco to sell the 22-year-old.
ReadChelsea reported earlier on Tuesday that Monaco had rejected an opening €45m offer, before an improved proposal was also turned down.
The Blues have now returned with another offer and finally secured the breakthrough they wanted.
Get French Football News reports, citing RMC Sport, that Chelsea and Monaco have reached an agreement worth €55m.
The report adds that Camara is expected to sign a six-year contract with the option of another year.
Romano has also reported that an agreement in principle is now in place and Camara has received authorisation to travel for his Chelsea medical.
Chelsea are therefore racing to complete the documentation and final formal steps before the window closes.
Camara set to replace Enzo Fernandez
The breakthrough comes only hours after Chelsea approved Enzo Fernandez’s £125m-plus transfer to Manchester City.
Finding another midfielder quickly became one of Chelsea’s biggest priorities after sanctioning the Argentina international’s departure.
Camara and Roma midfielder Manu Koné emerged as the two leading options.
Chelsea’s move for Koné eventually stalled after Roma decided to keep the France international, while Monaco initially resisted repeated approaches for Camara.
That left Chelsea facing the possibility of ending deadline day without a direct midfield addition.
The situation has now changed dramatically.
The Blues have increased their offer to €55m and secured an agreement with Monaco, leaving Camara’s medical and the final paperwork as the remaining major steps.
Chelsea’s persistence could therefore allow Xabi Alonso to receive his midfield reinforcement only hours after one of the biggest sales in the club’s history.
Camara joined Monaco from Metz in 2024 and has since developed into one of Ligue 1’s most highly rated young midfielders.
Monaco confirmed when signing Camara that the Senegal international arrived on a five-year contract after starring for both club and country.
Chelsea are now pushing to make him the latest major addition to Alonso’s squad before the deadline.
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