Chelsea are keen to sign Atalanta’s highly-rated centre-back Honest Ahanor, the club has said Caught offside.
At the age of 16 years, seven months and five days, Ahonor became Il Grifone’s seventh youngest debutant after starting at left wing-back in the 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Just five further appearances convinced Atalanta to pay a double-figure fee to secure his contract, a move that has since proven to be a masterstroke, with his performances in Serie A and the Champions League attracting the interest of several clubs.
Chelsea are among the clubs looking to sign Ahanor Caught offsidewhich claims the London giants are among the ‘most aggressive’ interested clubs in the race to sign the centre-back in 2026.
The report adds that Enzo Maresca’s side view the youngster as a perfect fit for their youth-driven recruitment strategy and are now preparing a formal £52 million bid for the versatile defender’s potential transfer to Stamford Bridge.
However, the Blues face stiff competition for his signature Caught offside claims Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Ahonor. Meanwhile, other European clubs including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Napoli have shown interest in the Italian-born Nigerian centre-back.
Chelsea need more experience than prospects
Chelsea have no shortage of centre-backs on the club’s books. In the first team, 19-year-old Josh Acheampong has made 12 appearances this season, including five times in the Premier League, most notably scoring his first goal for the Blues in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in October.
The academy also includes Harrison Murray-Campbell, who made his debut at Stamford Bridge last season and played in the Blues’ emphatic 5-1 UEFA Conference League win over Shamrock Rovers, and Ishé Samuels-Smith, currently on loan at Swansea, highly rated at the club.
In addition to the academy and first-team stars, the squad already includes Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr, both of whom will join the team next season after completing loan spells.
Last month, Chelsea reached an agreement in principle to sign highly rated Colombian central defender Deinner Ordóñez from Independiente del Valle. The defender will officially arrive in 2028 when he turns 18, leaving the club well-stocked with promising options at center back.
That said, Chelsea have promising options at center back. Enzo Maresca could benefit from gaining more experience, especially in defence, and the Blues could be better served by targeting an established defender rather than another young player who may need time to adapt.
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