Chelsea have completed the signing of defender Alex Disasi from Monaco for 45m euros (£38.57m).
The 25-year-old French international has agreed on a six-year contract and is set to become Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer following the acquisitions of Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Angelo Gabriel, and Diego Moreira, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino continues to add more quality to bolster his squad.
Forwards Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku joined from Villarreal and RB Leipzig respectively.
Disasi will compete with Chelsea’s options at centre-back which are Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, and Levi Colwill, who signed a new deal on August 2nd, as well as Benoit Badiashile, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last season and will miss the start of the Premier League season with a hamstring injury.
Disasi will fill in as another option at the right-sided centre-back position following the injury to Wesley Fofana, who is expected to be sidelined for several months after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament.
He played in all 38 of Monaco’s Ligue 1 games last season.
“I am really proud to be able to be a part of this great family,” Disasi told Chelsea’s website.
“I hope to achieve very big things here. To win titles. I will do everything I can to achieve those objectives. I am very ambitious.”
“I can’t wait to feel the energy of the fans,” Disasi added.
“The fervour of the fans in the Premier League, the atmosphere, the intensity of the games – it is something that excites me.”
Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ethan Ampadu, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and former captain Cesar Azpiliceuta have all departed the club so far this summer.
The Blues, meanwhile, have agreed a £25m deal with Brighton for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while the club are hopeful of signing midfielder Moises Caicedo, also from Brighton but are yet to meet the asking price — which is in excess of £100m — having had two bids rejected to date, the latest of which sums up to £80m.
Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley told the club’s website: “Axel has showcased his quality over several seasons in France and that has deservedly led to recognition on the international stage.
“He is ready to take the next step in his career and we are delighted that will be with Chelsea. We welcome him to the club and look forward to him joining up with Mauricio Pochettino and his new teammates in the days ahead.”
Disasi will offer Chelsea another option as a right-sided centre-back.
He has made 118 appearances for Monaco since joining the Ligue 1 club from Stade de Reims in August 2020.
The 25-year-old played in all 38 of Monaco’s Ligue 1 games last season and has earned four caps for France, including three appearances for France at last year’s World Cup.