Napoli Expresses Interest in Chelsea Defender Benoit Badiashile

Benoit Badiashile, the Chelsea centre-back, has caught the attention of Napoli following an injury setback to their defender Alessandro Buongiorno. The French player, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 for a reported fee of £35 million, has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances, causing him to fall down the pecking order under several managers.

Despite initial hopes that Xabi Alonso might offer Badiashile a fresh opportunity, the 25-year-old is not included in Alonso's plans. This could limit his chances to add to the 71 appearances he has made over three and a half years at Stamford Bridge.

Potential Move to Serie A

According to reports from The Sun, Napoli is interested in signing Badiashile on a three-year contract. The player appears keen on making the move before the 2026-27 season begins. Last season, Badiashile featured only 16 times for Chelsea, with eight appearances in the Premier League.

What Price Might Chelsea Ask?

Chelsea’s valuation of players like Trevoh Chalobah, who is currently considered more highly rated than Badiashile, sits between £30 million and £35 million. Given this, Napoli may find an opening to negotiate a lower fee for Badiashile. The defender still has about four and a half years remaining on his seven-and-a-half-year contract signed in 2023. For Chelsea to avoid losses, they would likely aim to recoup around £20 million.

Napoli's willingness to meet such a fee is uncertain. Their possible argument revolves around Badiashile’s limited game time, as he has not surpassed 22 league appearances in any single season since 2022-23.