Napoli Eye Chelsea Defender Benoit Badiashile Amid Serie A Interest

Benoit Badiashile Draws Attention from Napoli

Reports suggest Napoli is keen on signing Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile. Once a significant signing for the Blues, Badiashile arrived in January 2023 for £35 million, expected to strengthen Chelsea's defense.

Injuries and uneven performances have seen the French defender fall out of favor under successive managers. Though Xabi Alonso took charge recently, Badiashile does not feature in his plans. After three and a half years and 71 appearances, chances for more game time seem slim.

Napoli Steps In Following Injury Woes

The Sun reports that Napoli’s interest comes after Alessandro Buongiorno suffered an injury, prompting the Italian club to seek defensive reinforcements. While no transfer fee has been confirmed, Napoli reportedly wants to offer Badiashile a three-year contract. The player appears open to moving to Naples before the 2026-27 season begins.

Last season saw him make only 16 appearances across all competitions, with just eight in the Premier League.

Transfer Fee Considerations

Chelsea are aiming to recover around £20 million for Badiashile, who remains under a long-term contract signed in 2023, which runs for seven and a half years. This figure is less than what they expect for Trevoh Chalobah, another defender rated higher by the club.

Napoli might be cautious about meeting Chelsea’s valuation, given Badiashile's limited appearances—he has not played more than 22 league games in any season since 2022-23.