Chelsea are being linked with a move for Marseille attacking midfielder Darryl Bakola, with the Premier League club reportedly monitoring the teenager’s rapid rise in Ligue 1.
The 18-year-old, who represents both France and Congo at youth level, is the subject of growing transfer speculation, with reports in France suggesting Chelsea have added him to a list of emerging creative options. The current likelihood of a deal remains unclear, with the move rated only as “?” in early rumour indicators.
Bakola is under contract at Marseille, but no expiry date is publicly listed, leaving room for conjecture over his longer-term future at the Stade Vélodrome. That uncertainty, combined with his rising profile, has prompted suggestions that Marseille could face a decision between securing an extended deal or risking the possibility of the youngster moving towards free-agent status further down the line.
His market value has climbed sharply in 2025, rising from €200,000 in March to a current valuation of €4.00m by mid-December, according to Transfermarkt data. That trajectory is likely to appeal to recruitment departments focused on high-upside prospects who can be developed and potentially sold on at a premium.
Born in Clichy on 30 November 2007 and standing at 1.78m, Bakola has progressed through French youth football with Racing Club de France, Red Star and Marseille’s U17 and U19 sides before stepping up to the senior squad in September 2024. An attacking midfielder by trade and right-footed, he is viewed as a technically gifted option between the lines.
With Chelsea continuing to target young talent from continental Europe, any move for Bakola would be framed as a long-term investment rather than an immediate headline signing – but if the transfer does materialise, it could prove a pivotal moment in shaping his development, visibility and standing in European football.
