Chelsea have announced the signing of AS Monaco France defender Benoit Badiashile on a seven-and-a-half year deal.
The Blues made the announcement in a statement released on their website on Thursday.
The deal for the 21-year-old is believed to be in the region of £35million.
“Benoit Badiashile has completed a permanent transfer to Chelsea from AS Monaco, signing a seven-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge,” the statement read.
“The central defender has been a regular in Ligue 1 for the past five seasons and recently made his senior debut for France, having represented Les Bleus all the way up from Under-16 level.
“Despite the fact he only turns 22 in March, Badiashile already boasts significant experience in the French top flight and in Europe, where he has featured in the Champions League and Europa League for Monaco, amassing almost 150 appearances in all competitions to date.
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“At 6ft 4in, Badiashile is a dominant defender in the air but equally comfortable with the ball at his feet, capable of playing short passes out from the back or switching the play with longer diagonals. His blistering speed is a key attribute and he has experience in both a back four and back three at club level.
“He earned a regular place as Monaco’s left-sided centre-back while still a teenager and was handed his international debut by Didier Deschamps back in September aged just 21, a reward for his prominent role in back-to-back third-place finishes for the Principality side in Ligue 1.”
And speaking after completing his move to Chelsea, Badiashile said: “I’m very happy to be here at Chelsea. I’m so excited to start playing for this club. I can’t wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the world.”
