Chelsea have signed Italy defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta on a seven-year deal, the Premier League club announced Wednesday.
No fee was disclosed, but British media reports said the 21-year-old’s move was worth £43 million ($57 million), rising to £47 million with add-ons.
Chelsea finished a disappointing tenth in the Premier League last season but are looking to rebuild under new manager Xabi Alonso, with Palestra the first signing since the Spaniard formally started work at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Reports in Italy suggested Palestra was on the verge of joining Inter Milan before Chelsea made him a better offer.
“A lot of things convinced me to join Chelsea, one of the best clubs in the world,” Palestra, named Serie A Defender of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign, told the London side’s website.
