Chelsea transfer news: Marco Palestra signing confirmed, contract length and reasons behind Stamford Bridge move revealed

Chelsea person announced that they person completed the signing of Atalanta BC defender Marco Palestra.

New manager Xabi Alonso is said to person much power than his predecessors implicit which players get astatine Stamford Bridge this summer.

While a fig of players person been linked with a move to West London, Palestra was the archetypal to beryllium considered arsenic a definite people and apt arrival.

Last month, it was wide claimed that the Italy planetary had turned down involvement from Inter Milan to judge an connection from Chelsea.

On Wednesday afternoon, Chelsea confirmed that they would beryllium signing the versatile full-back, with reports suggesting that helium volition outgo £43m.

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How agelong is Palestra's Chelsea contract?

Chelsea person revealed that Palestra, who spent the 2025-26 run connected indebtedness astatine Cagliari, has penned a seven-year contract.

Speaking to the club's authoritative website, helium said: "A batch of things convinced maine to articulation Chelsea, 1 of the champion clubs successful the world.

"I’m precise excited to get started. I’ve felt the vigor since the archetypal time Chelsea wanted me. I can’t hold to start, spot each the fans, my teammates and the manager.

"We person truthful galore talented players here, a precise beardown squad and manager successful Xabi. He has spoken to maine astir however helium wants america to play, which is exciting, and we can’t hold to vie successful the Premier League."

Can Palestra expect to commencement for Chelsea?

With Chelsea seemingly moving for Pep Chavarria to regenerate Marc Cucurella, it appears that Palestra is much apt to play arsenic a close wing-back.

That would person ramifications for the likes of Reece James, with it becoming evident that the nine skipper cannot enactment fit erstwhile helium is utilized retired wide.

Palestra is lone 21 years of property and, connected paper, lacks the acquisition to go first-choice astatine Chelsea, a effect of making conscionable 46 appearances successful Serie A.

That said, helium was named arsenic the division's defender of the twelvemonth for 2025-26, and has seemingly been earmarked by Alonso arsenic a cardinal signing.

Although helium has lone contributed 1 extremity and 4 assists from 53 games arsenic a professional, Palestra is presently successful enactment to beryllium utilized if Alonso deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation.