Chelsea win Marco Palestra from Atalanta for £49M plus add-ons
Chelsea has agreed in principle to sign Marco Palestra from Atalanta for a base fee of about £49 million plus add-ons, offering the 21-year-old Italian right wing-back a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Marco Palestra deal details: Atalanta had already struck a fee agreement with Inter Milan around €45 million plus €5 million in add-ons, and Palestra had reached personal terms. Chelsea reportedly raised the base offer to just over €50 million (roughly £49 million) and, crucially, doubled the salary Inter had proposed, which helped win the transfer. Reports on June 23 suggested the parties could finalize the agreement within 24 hours after key discussions. Palestra profile: He is an Italy international and won Serie A Best Defender for the 2025-26 season. Impact on the clubs: Inter Milan lose a near-complete signing and must pivot to alternative targets. For Atalanta, Chelsea’s move pushes the price above what Inter was willing to pay, with add-ons potentially increasing the total further. Marco Palestra is expected to become a major squad addition for Chelsea.
Neutral
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