Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor in a deal worth €40m, with the Italy-born Nigerian-eligible youngster already giving his approval to the move, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Romano reported that Chelsea are working on an agreement for the 18-year-old defender that would see him join another Premier League club this summer to continue his development before moving to Stamford Bridge in June 2027.
“Chelsea are in advanced talks over €40m deal for Honest Ahanor from Atalanta,” Romano wrote on X.
“Understand the agreement for 18-year-old defender would include joining a Premier League club this summer in order to develop and then join Chelsea in June 2027.
“Honest already said yes to Chelsea.”
Ahanor made 22 appearances for Atalanta during the 2025/26 Serie A season, establishing himself as one of the young defenders attracting attention from leading European clubs.
His development began at Genoa, where he progressed through the club’s Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 sides during the 2023/24 campaign.
He subsequently moved to Atalanta in July 2025 in a deal reportedly worth €16m plus €4m in potential bonuses.
Because he was under 18 at the time, Ahanor signed a three-year contract, the maximum permitted under the relevant regulations.
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He also made his Champions League debut on September 30, starting the entire match as Atalanta defeated Club Brugge 2-1.
Ahanor’s international future has attracted particular interest because of his Nigerian heritage.
Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, he was eligible to represent Nigeria until his 18th birthday, while his path towards Italian citizenship was complicated by the country’s citizenship rules for children born to foreign parents.
Under Italian law, children born in Italy to foreign parents do not automatically acquire citizenship at birth and can apply after turning 18 if they have maintained continuous legal residence.
Ahanor eventually received his first Italy Under-21 call-up on March 20, 2026, after turning 18.
He was subsequently included in Italy’s senior squad in May for friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece in June.
His involvement with Italy means his international future is now firmly linked with the European country, despite his Nigerian parentage.
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The proposed structure of the transfer underlines Chelsea’s continued focus on recruiting young players with significant development potential.
Rather than immediately integrating Ahanor into their first team squad, the reported plan would see the teenager spend the coming season at another Premier League club before completing his move to Chelsea in June 2027.
