English football club, Chelsea, have reached an agreement worth £38.6 million to sign defender Axel Disasi from French club, AS Monaco.
The 25-year-old versatile centre-back, who can also play as a right-back, is now set to undergo a medical in preparation for his move to Stamford Bridge.
This acquisition comes as Chelsea seeks to bolster their defensive options following Wesley Fofana's injury, who is set to be sidelined for several months after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
The deal has come as a surprise, as Chelsea continues their pursuit of new signings ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Axel Disasi has reportedly agreed on personal terms with Chelsea, indicating that the transfer is likely to be completed in the coming days.
The 25-year-old defender has represented France four times and was part of the Les Bleus squad that reached the World Cup final in Qatar.
Last season, Disasi captained Monaco and established himself as one of the top defenders in Ligue 1 with consistent performances over the past few years.
Disasi joined Monaco in 2020 from Reims in a £10 million deal. Since then, he has become a vital player at Stade Louis II, registering seven goals in 99 appearances.
Upon joining, Axel Disasi will become Chelsea's fifth signing of the summer, joining the likes of Christopher Nkunku (£52 million), Nicolas Jackson (£32 million), Brazilian winger Angelo (£13 million), and Portuguese teenager Diego Moreira (free).
While Moises Caicedo remains Chelsea's top summer target, the club is yet to meet Brighton's valuation for the player, which is believed to be around £100 million. Brighton recently rejected Chelsea's latest offer of £80 million for the midfielder.
Romeo Lavia is another midfielder Chelsea has shown interest in, but they face competition from Liverpool in the race to sign the talented Southampton teenager. Southampton values the Belgium international at around £50 million.