Napoli have made a loan offer, with a €3 million option to buy, for Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile, according to La Gazzetta Dello Sport. The move comes as Badiashile has found his opportunities limited at Chelsea due to competition for places.
Napoli are also reportedly maintaining interest in Jean-Clair Todibo as a potential reinforcement, particularly in light of Alessandro Buongiorno’s recent injury. Buongiorno endured a challenging season with West Ham United, making 23 appearances but unable to prevent their relegation to the Championship.
Napoli’s transfer window has been relatively quiet thus far, with the club finalizing the permanent signings of Rasmus Højlund, Vanja Milinković-Savić, and Alisson Santos from their respective loan arrangements. Beyond a public disagreement with outgoing Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, the club’s board has yet to make significant moves in the transfer market.
Badiashile joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Monaco for a reported fee of £35 million, but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under successive managers. He has made 19 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, demonstrating his potential but also highlighting the challenge he faces in breaking into the first team consistently. A loan move to Napoli would offer him valuable playing time and the opportunity to showcase his abilities in Serie A.
The potential arrival of Badiashile would address a need for defensive depth at Napoli, especially with Buongiorno’s injury. This move could provide a short-term solution while the club continues to assess longer-term options in the transfer market. Securing Badiashile on loan represents a low-risk, high-reward strategy for Napoli as they prepare for the upcoming season.
