Teenager Honest Ahanor will join Chelsea next season, external but the Atalanta defender will play the rest of this campaign on loan at Crystal Palace.
The Blues have agreed a deal worth up to £40m for the 18-year-old Italy international.
But he will not arrive at Stamford Bridge immediately and has instead joined Palace, external before officially becoming a Chelsea player next summer.
“I’m very happy to be here and to be a part of this great family,” Ahanor told Crystal Palace official website after joining the Eagles., external
“To be at one of the best clubs for young players in the Premier League is something which makes me grateful and excited.”
Chelsea first expressed an interest in Ahanor, 18, when they signed right-back Marco Palestra from the Serie A side in July.
He mainly plays at left-back and joined Atalanta from Genoa on a three-year deal last summer for a reported fee of 16m euros, plus 4m euros in add-ons.
He made 28 appearances in Serie A for Atalanta last season, establishing himself as a regular starter. He also made his Champions League debut in a 2-1 win against Club Brugge last September.
In May, he was called up by Italy for friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece.
Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Marc Guiu has joined Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, external in a deal worth £14.6m, including add-ons.
The 20-year-old, who signed for the Blues from boyhood club Barcelona in July 2024, made 29 first-team appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge, scoring eight times.
Ahanor announced by two clubs in one day
Ahanor had the unusual distinction of being announced by two Premier League clubs and featuring in two separate photoshoots wearing two different badges in a single day.
Ultimately, the arrangement agreed by all parties will see Ahanor play for Crystal Palace during the 2026-27 season.
It follows Chelsea’s signing of centre-back Maxence Lacroix from their London rivals for £52m last month.
Chelsea have also loaned Axel Disasi directly to Palace for a £3m fee.
Under Premier League rules, clubs may loan only one player to another club in the same division.
However, this arrangement, under which a player is purchased in 2027 but loaned by selling club Atalanta to Chelsea’s preferred destination in the meantime, represents a workaround.
Chelsea have previously been accused of exploiting loopholes in Premier League regulations, including selling two hotels adjacent to Stamford Bridge and their women’s team to companies within their ownership structure in order to comply with financial rules.
They also handed out unusually long contracts after the club’s American owners took over in 2022, enabling transfer fees to be spread over a greater number of seasons.
In each case, the relevant regulations were subsequently amended.
However, Chelsea continue to seek innovative ways to recruit, develop and ultimately secure some of Europe’s most promising young talent.
By BBC Sports
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