Barcelona confirm Giulia Dragoni departure as Chelsea agree long-term deal for Italy forward

Barcelona have officially confirmed the departure of 19-year-old Italian forward Giulia Dragoni, who has joined Chelsea in a move that had been expected for several days.

The Catalan club announced the transfer on Friday evening, bringing an end to Dragoni’s time with Barcelona and confirming Chelsea as the next destination for one of the club’s promising young players.

The agreement completes a move that had first been reported by Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Tuesday. The Athletic subsequently reported that Chelsea would be the player’s final destination, before the two clubs reached a definitive agreement that allowed the transfer to be formally announced.

Neither Barcelona nor Chelsea disclosed the value of the deal in their official announcement. However, Mundo Deportivo reported that the fixed fee is more than €500,000 but will not exceed €600,000.

The agreement also includes a series of performance-related clauses. Those additional payments could increase the overall value of the transfer in the future, depending on Dragoni’s performances and achievements with the London club.

Dragoni has signed a long-term contract with Chelsea running for four seasons, taking her through to the summer of 2030. The deal also contains an option for a further season, which could keep her at the club until 2031.

That contract structure underlines Chelsea’s belief in the Italy forward’s ability and future potential, while Barcelona lose one of their emerging talents to the English top flight.

The move had been anticipated since the initial reports earlier in the week, but the clubs’ final agreement was required before Chelsea could become Dragoni’s confirmed destination. Friday’s announcement formally completed that process and confirmed her transfer away from Barcelona.

The financial details remain partly dependent on the variable clauses included in the agreement. While the fixed element of the deal is understood to fall between €500,000 and €600,000, the final amount could rise according to the player’s contribution and success at Chelsea.

Dragoni’s contract is therefore set to extend beyond the initial four-year term if the option for 2031 is activated. For Chelsea, the deal represents a long-term commitment to a 19-year-old Italy forward, while Barcelona’s announcement confirms the loss of a player regarded as one of their promising prospects.