Chelsea Initiates Talks with Atalanta for Defender Honest Ahanor
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that Chelsea has commenced preliminary discussions with Atalanta and the representatives of Italy international Honest Ahanor.
The Premier League club is keen on securing the Atalanta defender, with negotiations now taking place between the Serie A side and the player’s agents.
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Chelsea open Ahanor talks
Event details show that Atalanta previously declined a €34m offer from Brighton earlier this summer. Atalanta’s sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, emphasized in July that the club is unwilling to part with any of their top talents, including Ahanor.
The 18-year-old player transferred to Atalanta from Genoa in a deal worth €16m in 2025.
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Ahanor is versatile, capable of playing as a left wing-back or as a centre-back, especially as a left defender in a three-man defense.
Ahanor has made 28 appearances in Serie A and earned his first senior Italy cap in June under caretaker coach Silvio Baldini.
This season marks Giuntoli’s initial year at Atalanta, alongside new coach Maurizio Sarri, with whom he previously collaborated at Napoli.
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Chelsea successfully secured Marco Palestra from Atalanta earlier this summer for €60m, following his loan to Cagliari during the 2025-26 season.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Chelsea have opened preliminary talks with Atalanta and the entourage of Italy international Honest Ahanor.
Chelsea are interested in Atalanta defender Ahanor, and according to Gazzetta, the Blues have opened preliminary talks with both the Serie A club and the player’s agents.
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Chelsea open Ahanor talks
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 05: Francisco Conceicao of Juventus is challenged by Honest Ahanor of Atalanta during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Atalanta already rejected a €34m offer from Brighton earlier this summer, and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli reiterated in July that they are unwilling to sell any of their best and most promising players, including Ahanor.
The 18-year-old defender joined Atalanta from Genoa in a €16m deal in 2025.
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Ahanor can either play as a left wing-back or as a centre-back, particularly as a left defender in a three-man back-line.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 17: Honest Ahanor of Atalanta BC shakes hands with Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris Saint-Germain after the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta BC at Parc des Princes on September 17, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
He has collected 28 Serie A appearances and made his senior Italy debut this past June under caretaker coach Silvio Baldini.
Giuntoli has just started his first season at Atalanta and has been joined in Bergamo by new coach Maurizio Sarri. The pair had already worked together at Napoli.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Marco Palestra of Chelsea FC heads the ball during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
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Chelsea and Atalanta already completed a deal this summer, with Marco Palestra moving to Stamford Bridge from the Gewiss Stadium in a €60m deal.
Palestra had spent the entire 2025-26 season on loan at Cagliari
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