Chelsea transfer news: Next summer signing announced in 'hours' after £21.4m breakthrough

Chelsea are seemingly connected the verge of signing Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria successful a €25m (£21.4m) deal.

The 28-year-old has been identified by the Blues arsenic an perfect replacement for Marc Cucurella, who near successful a astonishment determination to Real Madrid earlier successful the summertime transportation window.

Chelsea made a £7.7m bid for Chavarria past month, which was rejected by Rayo Vallecano, but the Blues rapidly scheduled a caller circular of talks with their Spanish counterparts.

Several weeks later, the West London giants are yet connected the verge of getting their man, arsenic Marca reports that an statement for conscionable northbound of £20m has been struck betwixt the 2 clubs.

The £21.4m interest volition correspond Rayo Vallecano's astir costly merchantability successful history, and the study adds that an announcement tin beryllium expected wrong the coming hours.

Chelsea unafraid £21.4m discount connected Pep Chavarria

Chavarria lone signed a caller declaration with Rayo Vallecano past summer, and the defender was not owed to go a escaped cause until the summertime of 2030.

Chavarria's woody besides included a merchandise clause acceptable astatine €50m (£42.8m), but Chelsea person managed to negociate a woody for fractional the price, and besides for little than what Rayo Vallecano were primitively after.

Bayer Leverkusen were besides funny successful signing the 28-year-old, but the subordinate opted to motion for Xabi Alonso's existent club, ending a palmy four-year stint astatine Rayo Vallecano successful the process.

Chavarria has reportedly already arrived successful London arsenic helium prepares to formalise his move, and go Chelsea's seventh accomplishment of the summertime aft Danny Welbeck, Marco Palestra, Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers, Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha.

However, the defender could yet beryllium presented arsenic Chelsea's eighth summertime signing, arsenic the Blues are besides on the brink of announcing Jordan Henderson aft the midfielder passed his medical.

Who is Chelsea-bound Pep Chavarria?

Formerly of Figueres, Olot and Real Zaragoza, Chavarria joined Vallecano successful 2022 for a specified £1.5m, having ne'er played top-flight shot earlier his switch.

The defender rapidly became accustomed to the demands of the apical tier, though, managing 2 goals and 8 assists successful 125 games and helping Rayo Vallecano scope the 2025-26 Conference League final.

Chavarria played a captious relation successful Vallecano making the showpiece match, playing each infinitesimal of the knockout rounds up to and including the 1-0 decision to Crystal Palace successful the final.

The Spaniard ordinarily functions arsenic a left-back, though helium is besides comfy arsenic a near wing-back and has besides featured successful cardinal midfield and connected the right-hand broadside passim his career.