Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor has been linked with a move to England and Chelsea are actively pursuing his signature.
The centre-back joined La Dea from Genoa last summer. The Bergamo club paid a package worth €20m to sign him when he was 17. His age didn’t stop them from using him often in the first-team, as he featured 35 times in all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign.
Back in November, SportWitness exclusively revealed interest from Brighton and Nottingham Forest. The two clubs made initial contact for his signing but hadn’t moved beyond that.
Now, Chelsea are making in-roads over a deal and would have to pay a major amount.
Discussions held with Atalanta
Honest Ahanor of Atalanta looks on
during the Serie A ATALANTA BC v SS LAZIO at New Balance Arena.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the Blues like Ahanor, having been interested in him in the past.
Chelsea and Atalanta have a good relationship, after dealing with each other for Marco Palestra’s sale. Now, the two clubs have spoken about a move for the 18-year-old, who is ‘highly regarded’ by Xabi Alonso’s side.
AtalantaOggi add more, revealing the Blues need to make an ‘irrefutable’ offer to sign Ahanor.
Only this would lead to a turning point in discussions, with Atalanta demanding above €60m to sell the talent.
Ahanor’s exit could end up being important for La Dea. It will hand them the finances to make a major signing, with Alessio Romagnoli anyway seen as a replacement for the teenager.
Our take: One for the future
Considering how Chelsea’s interest in Ahanor has regularly been reported, they are obviously keen.
The youngster is a left sided defender by trade and he can also slot in easily at left-back. He did that reliably at Genoa but in Bergamo, he has mainly filled in at left centre-back.
Ahanor’s strengths lie in carrying the ball forward and becoming an extra man in midfield. Alonso likes a multi-functional profile like that – as evident from the Palestra signing.
