Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Napoli over the departure of defender Benoit Badiashile, according to Standard Sport, as manager Xabi Alonso continues to reshape his squad following the club's recent £16.3m signing.
The 28-year-old Frenchman has fallen out of favor at Stamford Bridge, having not featured for the Blues since March, when he last started in the FA Cup tie against Wrexham. With Jorrel Hato now established as competition at left-back and Chelsea having strengthened their defensive options further this summer, Badiashile is expected to seek regular first-team football elsewhere.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that the move to Naples will initially be structured as a loan, with Napoli responsible for covering Badiashile's wages for the remainder of the season. Crucially, the Italian club have also negotiated an option to convert the deal into a permanent transfer next summer for a fee of €27m (£23m). As part of the arrangement, Chelsea will receive a loan fee of €3m (£2.5m) from Napoli.
The defender's expected exit is seen as part of a broader effort by Chelsea to trim their squad before the summer transfer window closes next month. Badiashile's departure is likely to be one of several as the club looks to balance its books and create space for further incomings under Alonso's new regime.
Among the other players expected to leave is striker Liam Delap, who has been made available for a fee in the region of £50m. The 23-year-old has reportedly attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Everton, both of whom are believed to be exploring a move for the forward as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season.
Chelsea are also reportedly looking to offload other forwards from their ranks, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu both subject to interest from clubs elsewhere in Europe. Sources suggest that both loan and permanent offers are being considered for the pair as Chelsea continues to assess the depth of its attacking options under Alonso.
The west London club have been busy in the transfer market this summer, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, as the new manager looks to build a squad tailored to his tactical philosophy. Badiashile's move to Napoli, if finalized, would mark the latest step in that process, freeing up space and resources for further squad adjustments.
For Napoli, the addition of Badiashile would provide much-needed defensive depth as the Serie A champions look to defend their title and compete on multiple fronts next season. The structure of the deal — with an option to make the transfer permanent — gives the Italian club flexibility to assess the player's fit before committing to a long-term investment.
As the transfer window enters its final weeks, further departures from Stamford Bridge appear likely, with Chelsea continuing to negotiate exits for several fringe players. The futures of Delap, Jackson, and Guiu remain closely watched, with all three potentially set for moves before the deadline.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.