Como have reached an agreement worth over £30m to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.
The 27-year-old is set to commit to a long-term deal and take on a leadership role under manager Cesc Fàbregas. Como qualified for the Champions League after finishing fourth in Serie A last season.
Chelsea will receive an initial £25.7m, with a further £5.1m in add-ons after lengthy negotiations. The package is close to Chelsea’s valuation of £30m plus £5m in bonuses, following multiple offers since early June and interest from Inter Milan.
Fàbregas, formerly of Chelsea and Arsenal, has targeted Chalobah for more than six months. The England international leaves his boyhood club nearly two decades after joining as a child.
The move helps streamline new manager Xabi Alonso’s squad at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have signed 26-year-old Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52m, adding experience and height to their defence.
They still have nine senior centre-backs on their books, including Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Benoît Badiashile, Aaron Anselmino, Axel Disasi and Mamadou Sarr. Chelsea are open to selling Disasi and Badiashile and could loan out Sarr or Acheampong, potentially to another Premier League club.