**Chelsea have agreed the signing of Italy international defender Honest Ahanor, who will spend the rest of the season on loan at Crystal Palace.**
The 18-year-old has been signed from Atalanta for a fee of £40m.
The Blues have announced that Ahanor will officially join them in 2027.
He could not be signed from Atalanta and then loaned to Palace, because Axel Disasi [**is already on loan from Chelsea at the south London club.**](https://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/chelsea-defender-disasi-joins-palace)
Premier League rules prevent a club from loaning more than one player to the same side.
Ahanor has therefore joined Palace from Atalanta on loan prior to officially becoming a Chelsea player.
He featured 35 times for Atalanta last season and has played for Italy twice.
Ahanor was previously at Genoa, making six appearances for them before moving to Atalanta.