---
title: "Chelsea complete £40m signing but new defender joins Premier League rival first"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2026/09/01/chelsea-complete-40m-honest-ahanor-transfer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Chettle"
section: "Chelsea Transfer News"
published: "2026-09-01T10:48:53Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T17:56:33Z"
---

# Chelsea complete £40m signing but new defender joins Premier League rival first

**Chelsea have completed a remarkable £40million deal for Atalanta defender [Honest Ahanor](https://readchelsea.com/tag/honest-ahanor/), although the teenager will spend this season with [Crystal Palace](https://readchelsea.com/tag/crystal-palace/) before officially moving to Stamford Bridge in June 2027.**

The Blues had already reached an agreement for the highly-rated 18-year-old as part of their continued strategy of recruiting elite young talent.

ReadChelsea previously reported that [Chelsea had struck a £40m agreement with Atalanta for Ahanor](https://readchelsea.com/2026/08/27/chelsea-reach-40m-honest-ahanor-agreement-with-atalanta/).

The unusual structure of the transfer has now been confirmed.

[Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea have signed all the necessary documents](https://telegram.me/s/FabrizioRomanoTG?q=%23CPFC&utm_source=chatgpt.com), with Ahanor also completing his Chelsea medical ahead of a permanent move which becomes valid in June 2027.

> Chelsea Football Club has agreed a deal to sign Italian international Honest Ahanor from Serie A side Atalanta, with the defender officially joining in 2027. 🔵
>
> — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) [September 1, 2026](https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2094736606137573833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Honest Ahanor joins Crystal Palace first

Ahanor will not immediately become part of [Xabi Alonso](https://readchelsea.com/2026/08/30/chelsea-fc-news-now-xabi-alonso-ultimatum/)‘s squad.

Instead, the defender will formally move **from Atalanta to Crystal Palace on loan for the 2026/27 season**, before his pre-arranged Chelsea transfer takes effect next summer.

The Guardian has also confirmed that Palace are taking Ahanor on loan ahead of his £40m permanent switch to Chelsea.

It creates one of the more unusual deals of Chelsea’s summer.

Ahanor gets a full season of Premier League football at Selhurst Park while Chelsea effectively secure control of his long-term future without adding another young centre-back to Alonso’s squad immediately.

The Italy youth international can operate at centre-back or on the left side of defence and established himself in Atalanta’s first team despite his age.

Chelsea will therefore have to wait almost a year to welcome their £40m signing to Stamford Bridge.

But the important part is already done: **the documents have been signed and Ahanor’s Chelsea move is secured for June 2027.**