EPL

Chelsea sign £35m French international Badiashile

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Chelsea have announced the signing of France international Benoit Badiashile from Ligue 1 side Monaco for a fee of £35 million.

According to a statement made by the Blues, Badiashile signed for the club of putting pen to paper on a seven-and-a-half-year contract.

The 21-year-old central defender signed a “seven-and-a-half-year contract”, according to a statement from Chelsea.

Badiashile has been a vital cog in the Monaco squad after helping them finish third in Ligue 1 for the past two seasons.

He also earned his first international cap after Didier Deschamps call him up to the French national team last September.

“At 6ft 4in, Badiashile is a dominant defender in the air but equally comfortable with the ball at his feet, capable of playing short passes out from the back or switching the play with longer diagonals,” read the Chelsea statement.

“His blistering speed is a key attribute and he has experience in both a back four and back three at club level.”

Badiashile said he could not wait to “start playing in the best league in the world.”

The young Frenchman could play with Senegalese international Kalidou Koulibaly, who Chelsea reportedly bought for £33 million ($38 million) last July. Koulibaly has a lot more experience than the young Frenchman.

Chelsea’s chairman, Todd Boehly, and co-controlling owner, Behdad Eghbali, both said they were happy to sign one of Europe’s most talented defenders.

“He’s an excellent young player who has quickly established a strong reputation for himself and has a huge amount of experience for his young age,” they said in a joint statement.

“We are sure he will form an important part of our team in the years ahead.”