Como agree £31m deal to sign Chalobah from Chelsea
Como have agreed a deal worth more than £30m to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, bringing an end to his near-20-year association with the club he joined as a boy. The 27-year-old England international is set to sign a long-term contract at the Italian side, who qualified for the Champions League after finishing fourth in Serie A, and is expected to take up a leadership role under manager Cesc Fabregas. The move is part of a broader effort by Chelsea to trim new manager Xabi Alonso's oversized squad.
Chelsea will receive an initial £25.7m plus up to £5.1m in add-ons, close to their asking price after months of negotiations that began in early June and also attracted interest from Inter Milan. Fabregas, a former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder, had reportedly been pursuing Chalobah for more than six months. Chelsea have already brought in centre-back Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52m and still have nine senior centre-backs on their books, with Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile earmarked for departure and Mamadou Sarr or Josh Acheampong possible loan candidates.
- Como agree £30m+ deal for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah
- Ends Chalobah's near 20-year spell at his boyhood club
- Part of Chelsea's squad trim under new boss Xabi Alonso
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Trevoh Chalobah is an English defender who came through Chelsea’s academy and has spent most of his football career at the club. He plays in defence, where teams rely on players to stop opponents scoring and help build attacks from the back.
Como are an Italian club managed by former midfielder Cesc Fabregas. They finished fourth in Serie A, Italy’s top division, and are preparing to play in the Champions League, a major European competition between leading clubs.
Chelsea have a large group of senior defenders and are reshaping their squad under manager Xabi Alonso. The move matters to both clubs as Como strengthen for European football and Chelsea make room in a squad that already includes several centre-backs.