Chelsea’s hopes of landing Ian Subiabre have taken a hit, as River Plate have now secured the winger on a new long-term contract.
Argentinian journalist Juan Patricio Balbi reports the 18-year-old has reached an agreement to renew with the Argentine club until December 2028. That will also coincide with his debut for Argentina’s U20 side at the World Cup this Sunday.
Soon after, César Luis Merlo added more detail on the terms of the deal. He explained Subiabre’s release clause has been fixed at €100m (£85m). The the player will also receive a payment upfront, structured as an advance on a future transfer.
This comes only days after it was suggested Subiabre was resisting River’s attempts to extend his deal, as we covered. Chelsea and Barcelona were both linked with approaches. Instead, the Buenos Aires club have acted decisively to protect their asset.
For Chelsea, it means any pursuit of the youngster is now a far more expensive operation. River Plate are firmly in control of the situation but it’s not a dead transfer battle.
