Napoli have identified Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile as a target for the summer transfer window and could secure the 25-year-old for a fee of approximately €30 million. The French defender appears unlikely to feature in manager Xabi Alonso’s plans for the upcoming season, prompting the Premier League side to consider offers.
The Serie A side are making moves behind the scenes to secure the player, according to reports. However, they face competition from Real Sociedad, who are also monitoring the defender’s situation, albeit with less urgency than their Italian counterparts.
Limited Role in West London
Badiashile joined Chelsea from AS Monaco in January 2023 for €38 million but has struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular. Plagued by injuries and restricted to a substitute role, the Limoges-born player made just 16 appearances last season, starting 11 of those matches. This takes his total tally for the Blues to 71 appearances, during which he has scored two goals and provided one assist.
The lack of consistent playing time suggests the defender sits outside the immediate plans at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea could therefore accept a financial loss, with the €30 million valuation representing an €8 million decrease on the fee paid to Monaco approximately 18 months ago.
Transfer Outlook
Napoli’s approach indicates strong interest in strengthening their defensive options ahead of the new campaign. While the club are actively working on the deal, no agreement has been reached with Chelsea or the player.
Real Sociedad remain attentive to developments but have not demonstrated the same level of urgency as Napoli. With Badiashile available for a reduced fee, the coming weeks will determine whether the defender secures a move to Italy or remains in England to compete for a place under Alonso.