La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Chelsea have opened preliminary talks with Atalanta and the entourage of Italy international Honest Ahanor.
Chelsea are interested in Atalanta defender Ahanor, and according to Gazzetta, the Blues have opened preliminary talks with both the Serie A club and the player’s agents.
Chelsea open Ahanor talks
Atalanta already rejected a €34m offer from Brighton earlier this summer, and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli reiterated in July that they are unwilling to sell any of their best and most promising players, including Ahanor.
The 18-year-old defender joined Atalanta from Genoa in a €16m deal in 2025.
Ahanor can either play as a left wing-back or as a centre-back, particularly as a left defender in a three-man back-line.
He has collected 28 Serie A appearances and made his senior Italy debut this past June under caretaker coach Silvio Baldini.
Giuntoli has just started his first season at Atalanta and has been joined in Bergamo by new coach Maurizio Sarri. The pair had already worked together at Napoli.
Chelsea and Atalanta already completed a deal this summer, with Marco Palestra moving to Stamford Bridge from the Gewiss Stadium in a €60m deal.
Palestra had spent the entire 2025-26 season on loan at Cagliari
