Chelsea close in on Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara in €45m deal

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara after reaching an agreement in principle with AS Monaco over a transfer that could be worth up to €45m (£39m), including bonuses, according to Sacha Tavolieri.

The deal has not yet been completed, with the two clubs still discussing several outstanding details. Those include the schedule for payments and the structure of a number of performance-related bonuses.

Once those matters have been resolved, the transfer can be formally concluded and Camara will be able to complete his move to Chelsea.

Camara joined Monaco with high expectations and remains under contract with the Ligue 1 club until June 2029. The 21-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the most closely watched young midfielders in French football, attracting interest from a number of European clubs.

Brighton have also been in contact with the player’s representatives, according to Africafoot, which previously reported the development exclusively.

Chelsea’s proposed package would exceed Camara’s current estimated market value of €40m, as listed by Transfermarkt. With the additional bonuses included, the overall value of the operation could rise to €45m.

Camara is reported to earn an annual salary of €920,000, equivalent to 598,000,000 CFA francs.

The midfielder’s potential departure comes as Monaco prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in their next Ligue 1 fixture, which will be the third matchday of the French championship. The match will take place while negotiations over Camara’s future continue.

Betting company 1xBet lists Monaco at 6.60 to win, with a draw priced at 5.20 and a Paris Saint-Germain victory at 1.36.

Camara’s progress at Monaco has made him an increasingly prominent figure in the Senegal national team setup. His performances in midfield have helped attract attention beyond France, with Chelsea now seeking to complete an agreement that would take him to the Premier League.

The proposed move remains subject to the final contractual arrangements between Chelsea and Monaco. Until those terms have been settled, Camara remains a Monaco player, despite the principle of a transfer agreement already having been reached.