Chelsea defender Malo Gusto has agreed to join Manchester City this summer, seeking a reunion with incoming manager Enzo Maresca, according to reports from Foot Mercato. The France international has been a consistent performer for Chelsea since arriving from Lyon in 2023, but a move to the Etihad Stadium is now seemingly on the cards.
Gusto featured in 49 matches across all competitions last season, contributing eight goals and assists. However, with Manchester City poised to officially announce the signing of Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra, the arrival of the Italy international could prompt Chelsea to consider offers for the 23-year-old.
While not considered an ‘untouchable’ player by Chelsea, the club is reportedly demanding a substantial fee of €86.7 million (£75m) for Gusto’s services. This figure significantly exceeds his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €45.9m, but Manchester City are prepared to enter formal negotiations. Maresca, recently appointed as Pep Guardiola’s replacement, has identified Gusto as a priority target.
The Frenchman’s willingness to work under Maresca again has been a key factor in the agreement. Despite having a contract at Stamford Bridge that runs until 2030, Chelsea have previously demonstrated a willingness to sell players to Premier League rivals, as evidenced by the departures of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount.
Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed during the latter stages of the 2025-26 season, and with the addition of Palestra, the club may be open to allowing Gusto to depart. A sale for €86.7m would represent a significant profit, given he was initially signed from Lyon for €30m. Should Gusto move to Manchester, Reece James and Palestra are expected to share responsibilities at right-back for Chelsea, while the Frenchman would likely compete with Matheus Nunes for a starting position at City.
