Chelsea announce Benoit Badiashile has signed a £35m deal for the 21-year-old defender

Chelsea have announced the signing of Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, 21, for £35million for seven and a half years.

The Blues have been looking for a left central defender since the summer and could not agree on a deal with RB Leipzig for Croatian World Cup star Josko Gvardiol.

Chelsea were understood to have reached an agreement to sign Badiashile earlier this week – and agreed personal terms on a long-term deal.

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile

Graham Potter was keen to introduce an additional central defense option in the January window

Badiashile then arrived in the capital and completed his medical degree before completing his transfer.

The France centre-back was ruled out by Monaco’s team against Brest on New Year’s Day as details were finalized ahead of his departure for London.

The defender told the club’s website: “I’m very happy to be here at Chelsea. I am very happy to play for this club. I can’t wait to see the fans and play in the best league in the world.”

Badiashile said: “I can’t wait to see the fans and play in the best league in the world”

Chelsea have signed the France international on a seven-and-a-half-year contract

Meanwhile, Blues owner Todd Boehly said: “We are delighted to welcome Benoit to Chelsea.

“He’s an excellent young player who has quickly built a solid reputation and has tremendous experience for his young age. We are certain that he will be an important part of our team for years to come.”

Badiashile, who was the subject of a bid from Newcastle United last year before picking up an injury, will compete for central defensive positions at Stamford Bridge with Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah.

The France youngster (L) is a tall centre-back known for his physicality and speed in defence

Potter will be hoping his arrival will give a big boost to Chelsea, who are languishing in 10th place

The young defender, who has also attracted interest from West Ham and Sevilla, made his Ligue 1 debut for the Monegasque club in 2018 aged just 17 and made 20 appearances in his first season with the club.

Since then he has made 135 appearances for Monaco and was part of the side that reached the French Cup final in 2021.

A left-footed defender, Badiashile can play both on the left flank of a central three-man defense and as part of a back four

After representing France at all youth levels, Badiashile’s domestic performances for Phillipe Clement’s side earned him a senior call-up earlier this year and made his debut in a 2-0 Nations League win against Austria in September.

The signing complements the arrival of Ivory Coast international David Datro Fofana at Stamford Bridge following his move from Molde.

Graham Potter’s targets Andrey Santos, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk and most notably World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez have also been linked with the move to Stamford Bridge.

But the Blues boss wasn’t drawn to speculation ahead of Thursday night’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.

“It’s a good question but the problem is when I answer it and I’m specific in that answer, every single player in that area is associated with Chelsea,” he said. ‘So I have to avoid him – and I hope you can understand why I avoid him.

“I always answer that part of the question by saying I’m the head coach and my responsibility is to the players who are here.

The centre-back made 35 appearances in La Liga last season as Monaco finished third in Ligue 1

Badiashile celebrates after scoring for Monaco in the club’s Ligue 1 tie against Lyon

“We will try to improve in every window but January is complicated because it’s in the middle of the season.

“And in the meantime we have to deal with all the noise when Chelsea is associated with everyone and I don’t comment on any player who isn’t a Chelsea player.

“As always and it’s a boring answer but my job is to help the players who are here and to support the club in decisions they are making to improve.”

Todd Boehly continues to invest heavily in Chelsea after his summer spending spree