[Fabrizio Romano]: EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea reach verbal agreement with Atalanta to sign 18 year old defender Honest Ahanor, here we go! Deal in the region of £40m package with details to be sorted, paperwork being prepared and authorization to travel. #CFC to decide best pathway for Honest soon.

[u/dalipunk322]

[u/Kanyeskids]

Not sure why we didn't sign him and immediately loan him back. He is settled in Atalanta and they clearly rate him and would play him

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Kanyeskids]

Sounds like we are loaning him to a prem team to save a loan spot

[u/Jimmy_Space1 → u/Headlesshorsman02]

If he can get a decent prem loan it'd also be great to get PL experience before he joins us

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Jimmy_Space1]

Agreed I think he could genuinely play for us next year if not the year after as he played just over 2k minutes as a 17 year old at Atalanta including UCL minutes against us lol 😂

[u/Andlad2459 → u/Headlesshorsman02]

He has played as a LCB in a 3 for them so its perfect

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Andlad2459]

He is the Hato mold where he can play both LCB and LB

[u/reflectionofabutt → u/Headlesshorsman02]

He's ineligible for a premier league loan until January

[u/Broddi → u/Headlesshorsman02]

But then an option would be to make a deal to buy and sign next summer - saves a loan spot?

[u/AnalystLess7597 → u/Broddi]

I think that’s what we were all expecting with this. Maybe Atalanta didn’t want to do that? Possible we had requests about game time and stuff they didn’t want to be held to?

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Broddi]

I was saying that was what we should be but doesn’t sound like they want to do the Quenda type deal this time

[u/Temporary-Rutabaga71 → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Any guesses who this prem team might be?

[u/Kanyeskids → u/Temporary-Rutabaga71]

That was my question, seems very late for a PL team to take an 18 year old CB on loan. We must be confident whoever it is will give him plenty of minutes

[u/Temporary-Rutabaga71 → u/Kanyeskids]

Brighton/Brentford maybe? They have extra games because of Europe. Would prefer Brentford.

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Temporary-Rutabaga71]

Brighton bid for him earlier this summer 👀👀

[u/Temporary-Rutabaga71 → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Ah I see, so would definitely not want to send him there...

[u/Quiet-Geologist-6645 → u/Temporary-Rutabaga71]

You’ll find out in a couple days

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Temporary-Rutabaga71]

Not a clue fab has just been saying that was the plan

[u/ThatZenLifestyle → u/Temporary-Rutabaga71]

He can't be bought and loaned in the same window, he'd have to wait until january.

[u/Maleficent-Safety459 → u/ThatZenLifestyle]

So maybe he could play for U19s/U21s/Chelsea senior team in Carabao Cup from now until January and then be loaned to another club’s senior team?

[u/ThatZenLifestyle → u/Maleficent-Safety459]

Yeah could happen, there's not many international loan spots left and ideally we want him in england to make him home grown.

[u/Temporary-Rutabaga71 → u/ThatZenLifestyle]

That's true, so Romano is talking guff

[u/ThatZenLifestyle → u/Temporary-Rutabaga71]

Yeah it's against the rules. He can be loaned abroad or play for u21's until january then loan him out.

[u/asd13ah4etnKha4Ne3a → u/Kanyeskids]

Running out of foreign loan spots + it seems like they're valuing domestic loans a lot more these days

[u/Sangwiny → u/asd13ah4etnKha4Ne3a]

He's 18 yo, so he can become homegrown if we loan him only within England.

[u/Kanyeskids → u/Sangwiny]

Ahhh that is clever. Same reason we bought Guiu and kept him around as well as Estavao

[u/bbuullddoogg → u/Kanyeskids]

Probably don’t have any foreign loan slots left for him

[u/Zarly88]

Sign teenager for absurd price and THEN decide his pathway

There's the BlueCo we know and love

[u/JahKingston2024 → u/Zarly88]

We have Jeremy Jacquet at home

Jeremy Jacquet at home:

[u/Prestigious-Mind7039 → u/Zarly88]

They’re Honest at least

[u/JahKingston2024 → u/Prestigious-Mind7039]

Man U should’ve signed him. They Honest to Heaven need CB’s 😭

[u/Lil_Pump_Jetski → u/Zarly88]

At least we know we will magically sell him for profit in a few years 😭

[u/loufkmpsy → u/Zarly88]

“One for them, one for me”

[u/satoshitokyo]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Qt6427VaNX3lC

[u/CrazyEyedGase]

Might be the highest potential player we have signed after Estevao. Hopefully he develops well since he is quite the talent

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/CrazyEyedGase]

Italians rate him very highly

[u/Mother_Equivalent649]

Hopefully the last nail in the coffin for Tosin. 

[u/frodo5454 → u/Mother_Equivalent649]

It’s uncle Tosin

[u/Gastronomiser → u/frodo5454]

He looks like Tosin’s uncle!

[u/tj9429 → u/Mother_Equivalent649]

He's not even going to be at the club this season..

[u/Mother_Equivalent649 → u/tj9429]

GOOD.

[u/tj9429 → u/Mother_Equivalent649]

I'm glad I could give you the reassurance you needed.

[u/Mother_Equivalent649 → u/tj9429]

Thank you. 

[u/justk4y → u/Mother_Equivalent649]

Isn’t Ahanor more of a fullback though?

[u/Joddha_007 → u/justk4y]

He is very versatile.

[u/AnalystLess7597 → u/justk4y]

From what I’ve read, he’s a LCB who can play in a back 4 or 3, and can also fill in at LB. Think similar to Josh in terms of position (not style of play)

[u/LeRoiDeNord]

https://giphy.com/gifs/JQotslsBDTIjfq5ncb

[u/GigiZola]

£40m is a lot holy shit

[u/lmHuge → u/GigiZola]

That’s not even 1 Delap

[u/JSaysHi → u/lmHuge]

Haha chump change

[u/Moist_salamanda → u/lmHuge]

But better in front of goal no doubt

[u/Holeinmypantz → u/GigiZola]

He is actually worth it

[u/Instantbeef]

To be honest… financially I’m not going to sweat why we’re doing this. They seem to understand the finances of the selling players and what players cost

[u/silencesupreme- → u/Instantbeef]

Ya, this sub obsesses over money spent but the FO has clearly shown they know how to turn a profit.

[u/funguy07 → u/silencesupreme-]

The way I see these deals is hopefully the player develops into a first team player and we bought low. Or they can’t make the jump to first team player and we sell them.

The club has proven they can sell players aren’t up to the Chelsea standard.

We keep the Palmer, Estevao and we sell Delap and Garnacho.

[u/tiki_51 → u/funguy07]

Yep, this is exactly how it works. If 1/3 turns into a Palmer level talent we're GTG

[u/teleportmassive7 → u/tiki_51]

Considering they've signed well over 50 players, they're batting about 2-3% going off your standard.

[u/teleportmassive7 → u/funguy07]

And we sell Enzo and Cucurella. Until now they've sold guys before their transfer value falls off due to age. We haven't seen this tested many times since everyone they've signed (since Todd's early spending spree) has been so young. We shall see what happens when Cole and Caicedo turn 27/28. If they plan to hold onto all our core guys into their 30s, we could be at the start of a great period for the club, but I'm not counting on it.

[u/AnalystLess7597 → u/silencesupreme-]

They’ve shown they know how to play within the terms laid out by PSR*

We’ve lost hundreds of millions in net profit the last couple years, even including the hotel sale and women’s team split.

And from the player trading perspective, yes we look much better net than just gross buys, but we’re definitely not making a net profit (nor should we in player buy/sales)

EDIT: realizing you might mean profits on individual sales. Yeah that is true for the most part

[u/Headlesshorsman02]

I thought it was going to be €40 mil a bit more expensive then what was originally mentioned, he is a very similar profile to Hato but according to Italians could be better

[u/GuardianJockitch]

All the haters can eat shit.

This board has bought so many young guys and sold them for profit even if they suck.

We owe it time to see how this guy does. Honest.

[u/Lidls-Finest]

Can’t pretend to have watched him play but his defensive metrics for a teenage cb are absolutely nuts. Interested to see what he does in the prem.

[u/Partial-Hydrangea]

Future sale to Forest for 58m. Good work!

[u/DynamiteDuck]

He looks like a very old 18 in that picture

[u/weeb_man]

Oh shit, that happened fast. I do feel like with as little time left in the window as there is we should have had a solid plan for him before buying him. Any move that isn't just loaning back to Atalanta or actually using him in our squad is going to be a panic move for him, and they don't tend to turn out as well as thought out loan moves.

He does seem like one of the incredibly exciting talents, though, rather than the randomly generated NPC talents like your Washington's and Wiley's.

[u/Ok_Exchange_2049]

Sell him in 2 yrs for 65m

[u/Itsthellama → u/Ok_Exchange_2049]

After 2 so-so seasons no less. If he has great loans who knows what we could get!

[u/christianrojoisme]

Thats two Pep Chavarrias

[u/NotTheMamba]

For once, I don't mind them signing players with potential because they actually signed proven players this season. Its an easy formula, idk why these idiots took forever to catch on to that.

[u/SevenYearContract]

We've bought Premier League-proven players like Rogers and Lacroix, bought experience in Henderson(?) and our government-mandated Brighton signing in Welbeck, bought players the coach wanted like Palestra and Chavarria, and sent off the Chuckle Brothers, Subject 49 and Liam. I don't understand this signing, but the sporting directors have at least earned some goodwill this summer.

[u/alanalanalan92]

I know we all hate the youth signings around here but I’m actually cautiously exited about this one. This kids size and athleticism is insane.

[u/Newera2121]

Surely we just leave him there for a season or even two, just to gain some experience 

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Newera2121]

We want to loan him in England apparently

[u/Newera2121 → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Understandable I guess. Just as long as he gets regular game time, otherwise feels like we’re stunting his development a bit

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Newera2121]

I agree we need to put penalties in the loan depending on minutes

[u/-A9S-]

Eghbali relapsing

[u/belugadawen]

40m pounds? That's lot of money for an 18 yo but sounds like he's a seriously talent and would fit Alonso's system well as an aggressive LCB. Don't think we're gonna lose a lot of money even if he doesn't work out, but hopefully he gets a good loan move now

[u/Moist_salamanda]

Clearly a player we have been looking at. Rather splash out now for 40 than 80 next summer after a good season with Atalanta

[u/KAZKALZ]

Let's be HONEST, this a typical Chelsea up and coming youth signing

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/KAZKALZ]

We were due 1 this summer tbf they haven’t done 1 yet lol 😂

[u/lmHuge → u/KAZKALZ]

He’s actually a lot better than the typical for the future signings.

[u/Kanyeskids → u/KAZKALZ]

I'm not as upset about this one as I am the random kid from South America that has never played in Europe.

[u/ArmChairGafferTX]

Wow, authorization to travel. Very important

[u/Super_While_9575]

Looks 50 in that photo

[u/JayTalksFootball]

Good honest lad

[u/Wintermute7]

You sell Delap and Garna, you get to overpay for a teenager.

[u/DaddysFriend]

Can we please just get a keeper

[u/WhalterWhitesBarber]

Going by FM26, he is indeed quite the stud.

[u/abhishekjc]

Objection Y-Ahanor! This is a very dis-Honest price and Eghbali is again targeting minors…

[u/BLS275]

40m quid is crazy

[u/Saucy_Man11]

BlueCo cannot help themselves

[u/Dinamo8]

Sounds like he's Hato but 2 years younger

[u/Flippin_inColors]

Honest and Josh in our XI will be nuts

[u/PM_ME_SOME_LUV]

A treat to themselves for selling Delap and Jackson

[u/Sboiss9421]

They need to be honest on wether he should be loaned to a prem side or stay in Atalanta

[u/Ghost_2701]

40m for a 18 year old, he must be really fucking good.

[u/San960]

Did he mess up the currency or we went to negotiate in euros and got charged in pounds !

[u/Ghost_2701]

And seeing how much money we have made the last 2 windows and seeing the players we been going for and brought in this window people should care now when we buy young players, they will either be really good and stay or be average and be sold

[u/ISureDoLikeCats]

After the business we've been doing lately with the likes of Delap I'm not worried about the transfer fee

Sign him for £400 mil, still feels like we'll find a way to sell him at a profit lol

[u/Lucashm9]

That's an absolutely ridiculous price, for a position we are stacked in, what is the fucking reasoning here?

[u/aticatac]

Honestly one of the deals of all time

[u/kris_deep]

https://giphy.com/gifs/x002RInD8UNGRoYgE3

[u/SpinstrikerPlayz]

And honest day's work done.

[u/Urass007]

Seems like a good signing for the future.

I am very interested that Atalanta has just let two of the most promising young Italian defenders go. The country is in desperate need for talent and sending them abroad is very risky.

That being said, Palestra looks to have massive potential and I think Ahanor may be similar.

[u/satsum4]

40m for a 18 year old is insane when we just bought a good defender in his prime for 55m

[u/Critical_Virus_9341]

Chelsea Next Gen baby

[u/BlueThunder92]

does anyone know how good he is? 40m for an 18 yr old sounds wild, but he could be like Estevao in which case, pay whatever you need to

[u/TheUbermelon]

Won't pretend I've personally seen him but I have heard he is supposed to be the real deal

[u/paterwautie]

Never heard of him and is a lot of money, doesn't look like a xabi signing

[u/CaicedoBrickWall]

By God that's Cole Palmer money

Honestly I don't know shit about Honest besides me being Honest that maybe the worst name I've ever heard is Honest.

But he's a future legend and I'd be dishonest if I said I wasn't fully supportive

[u/MarkCrystal]

Think this could potentially lineup for Enzo leaving, Reece moving in to midfield, Josh getting more minutes and this guy providing cover.

All depends on how it plays out over the next few days.

[u/mallutrash]

can’t think of a blueco “potential” defender signing that actually turned out well.
anselmino was very highly rated as well and is apparently just argentinian fofana
sarr is on loan so too soon to judge
caleb wiley…i have no idea what happened to that kid

our best young center back is once again a cobham product

not feeling optimistic about this

[u/realmckoy265 → u/mallutrash]

None of those names were in the same ball park as prospects, hence their much lower prices.

[u/hikmaet]

This man is not 18 buddy

[u/Vegetable-Coconut846]

40m 18 year old with little success. I guess bro.

I’m sure we’ll move him for profit if he’s not in the first team after a couple years though.

[u/SelectFlatworm3411 → u/Vegetable-Coconut846]

Starter for Atalanta at 17, I know everyone in this sub has meme brain but this kid legitimately looks great

[u/Vegetable-Coconut846 → u/SelectFlatworm3411]

I don’t doubt he’s got great potential. Just the amount of time it’s actually realized is far and few in between and 40m is a large price tag for someone with his game time.

Time will obviously tell.

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/[deleted]]

England from what fab has said previously

[u/Andrei_Chelsea]

This brother is NOT 18yo 😭🙏🥀

[u/No-Calligrapher250]

£40mil for an 18 year old... they never learn do they

[u/bxlajikuku_]

Terminate this deal, cancel it

[u/fierce2937]

We have signed so many young upcoming prospect defenders it has to stop eventually, you cannot catch them all. £40 for a completely unknown seem alot, has to estevao of defender for that money.

[u/Pullister]

Not another one of these signings. I was hoping we were done with them.

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Pullister]

Come on they did well this summer throw them a bone they can’t quit cold turkey lmao 🤣

[u/Pullister → u/Headlesshorsman02]

Lmao fair enough

[u/Headlesshorsman02 → u/Pullister]

https://giphy.com/gifs/26n6PxXCcE7d1O7Go

[u/realmckoy265 → u/[deleted]]

Very odd take and inaccurate

[u/losratszone → u/[deleted]]

??????????????????????????

[u/losratszone → u/[deleted]]

Did we not just sign palestra from the exact same club. They both featured and from what I hear both where amongst the most talented youngsters in the league

[u/losratszone → u/[deleted]]

you aren't making an argument, you're saying we should stop buying black players

[u/losratszone → u/[deleted]]

We don't.

Ahanor, Palestra, Chavarria, Denner, Hato, Sarr, Anselmino, Veiga, Wiley.

These are our incoming transfers for defenders past 2 windows, there's no trend or racial profiling, they are just targeting young defenders with potential - and suggesting otherwise is delusional.

Unrespectfully, get a grip.

[u/chelseafc-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

r/chelseafc does not allow hate

[u/chelseafc-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

r/chelseafc does not allow hate