Napoli optimistic over Benoit Badiashile deal despite Chelsea price tag

Napoli remain confident of reaching an agreement with Chelsea for defender Benoit Badiashile despite a difference in the clubs’ valuation of the France international.

The Serie A champions have been pursuing the 25-year-old for several weeks and are negotiating a loan move with an option to buy as Chelsea continue to reshape their squad before the summer transfer window closes on Tuesday, September 1.

According to Gazzetta, Napoli and Chelsea have already reached an agreement in principle over the structure of the loan, with the Italian club set to pay €3 million for Badiashile’s services during the 2026-27 season.

The outstanding issue is the fee attached to the potential permanent transfer.

Chelsea raise asking price

Chelsea initially sought to include a €15 million obligation to buy in the agreement, but Napoli rejected that proposal.

The London club subsequently accepted a buy option rather than making the transfer mandatory, although they have increased their valuation and are now seeking between €18 million and €20 million for the defender.

Napoli, however, are continuing to negotiate in an attempt to reduce the final figure before committing to the deal.

Despite the difference in valuation, there is optimism on the Italian side that an agreement can still be reached.

Napoli see Badiashile as a defensive option

The gap between the two clubs is reportedly considered minimal, leaving Napoli confident that negotiations can be concluded successfully.

Badiashile has found his opportunities at Chelsea increasingly limited amid the club’s deep squad and is among the players expected to depart before the transfer window shuts.

A move to Napoli would give the defender an opportunity to revive his career in Serie A while providing the Italian club with additional defensive depth for the upcoming campaign.

The negotiations are therefore expected to continue, with Napoli focused on lowering the €18m-€20m valuation while Chelsea look to secure favourable terms for a player who still has a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.

With the two clubs already aligned on the loan structure, the remaining talks are centred largely on the purchase option, and Napoli believe the relatively small financial gap can be bridged.