Chelsea bolster backline with Badiashile signing for reported €38M fee

Chelsea strengthened their defensive options with the signing of Benoit Badiashile on Thursday.

The Frenchman, 21, inked a seven-and-a-half-year contract with the Blues after Chelsea reportedly agreed to a €38-million transfer fee with AS Monaco.

Badiashile's arrival should mark an end to Chelsea's drawn-out search for a left-sided center-back. RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol, who starred for Croatia at the World Cup, was heavily linked with Chelsea last summer, but the clubs couldn't reach an agreement over the defender's valuation. Eintracht Frankfurt's Evan Ndicka and Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie were also considered for the role, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Graham Potter has switched between three- and four-man backlines since his appointment as head coach in September, with his selections in the left-sided center-back slots tending to rotate between Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly (aged 38 and 31, respectively), and Marc Cucurella - who is yet to find his best form since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer.

With Cesar Azpilicueta - who is 33 - also a part of Chelsea's defense in the disappointing 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day, this part of the lineup appeared in dire need of renewal.