Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly preparing to battle for Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor after his rapid rise in Serie A.
Brighton have been linked with the 18-year-old since June, but Chelsea have now joined the race as they continue to look towards Atalanta for young talent.
Ahanor enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season and has already attracted interest from several Premier League clubs.
Chelsea join race for Honest Ahanor
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Chelsea are now pursuing Ahanor after completing the signing of Marco Palestra from Atalanta on 1 July.
The centre-back only joined the Italian club from Genoa in July 2025 for a reported €16 million plus €4m in bonuses.
He quickly established himself, playing 1,902 minutes across 35 matches last season.
His performances also earned him a senior Italy debut during the June friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece.
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have previously been credited with interest. Chelsea and Brighton are now the latest clubs to enter the picture.
Brighton already working on defensive additions
Chelsea have reportedly been warned to “be careful” of competition from other Premier League clubs, with Brighton specifically mentioned.
The Seagulls have already strengthened their defence by signing Pascal Struijk from Leeds United and Michael Svoboda from Venezia.
They have also been linked with Tottenham defender Luka Vušković, showing that further defensive recruitment remains under consideration.
Brighton’s interest in Ahanor is not new. Reports on 25 June claimed they were discussing both the defender and Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, who share the same agent.
That existing connection could prove useful if the race for Ahanor develops.
Atalanta youngster valued at €30m
Ahanor has two years remaining on his Atalanta contract and is valued at €30m by Transfermarkt.
The defender is represented by GR Sports, the agency headed by Italian agent Giuseppe Riso.
At just 18, Ahanor’s combination of regular Serie A experience and senior international recognition makes him an attractive long-term investment.
However, the growing list of interested Premier League clubs means Chelsea and Brighton may need to move quickly if they want to take control of the race.
Key points
- Chelsea have joined Brighton in the race for Honest Ahanor.
- The 18-year-old made 35 appearances for Atalanta last season.
- Ahanor earned his senior Italy debut in June.
- Brighton have been interested since at least late June.
- Several other Premier League clubs have previously monitored the defender.
- Ahanor has two years left on his Atalanta contract.
What’s next?
Chelsea and Brighton must decide whether to turn their interest into formal offers.
Brighton already have links with Ahanor’s representatives, while Chelsea recently completed another deal with Atalanta for Palestra. With several Premier League clubs monitoring the situation, the competition could intensify quickly.
Would Honest Ahanor be a better fit for Chelsea or Brighton?
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