Badiashile: Napoli eye move for Chelsea and France defender

Benoit Badiashile, the French and DR Congo centre-back currently at Chelsea, is being linked with a summer move to Serie A side Napoli. The Italian club are monitoring the 25-year-old as they assess defensive options for the new season, with the Chelsea player valued at around €15 million.

Badiashile, a left-footed central defender, is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 30 June 2030, meaning any deal would require negotiations with Chelsea rather than a cut-price exit. Chelsea committed to a long-term agreement when the defender joined on 5 January 2023, and the length of that contract places the Premier League club in a strong position over his future.

Standing at 1.94m and born in Limoges on 26 March 2001, Badiashile has established himself as part of Chelsea’s defensive ranks and was involved as the club collected silverware in recent seasons. He won the FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea in 2025 and was part of the squad that lifted the Europa Conference League in the 2024-25 campaign.

Any move to Napoli would offer Badiashile a first taste of Italian football and reunite him with a league renowned for its defensive focus. For Napoli, the Chelsea defender represents an experienced option at the heart of the back line, with top-level European and domestic cup experience already on his CV.

With four years still remaining on his deal, Chelsea retain control over Badiashile’s next step, and there is currently no indication that an agreement with Napoli is close.