Chelsea are set to officially announce the signing of Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria “in the coming hours” after the two clubs reached an agreement on a £21.4 million (€25 million) deal, according to reports in Spain.
The 28-year-old Spaniard has already agreed personal terms and is in England ahead of completing a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, where he will reunite with compatriot and new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Chavarria’s rise and the Cucurella void
Chavarria established himself as one of La Liga’s most sought-after wing-backs last season, making 44 appearances across all competitions while contributing one goal and three assists for Rayo Vallecano. His performances placed him at the top of Chelsea’s shortlist after the club identified his profile as perfectly suited to Alonso’s preferred 3-4-3 system.
The Blues were forced to enter the transfer market following the departure of Marc Cucurella, who joined Real Madrid earlier this summer in a £51.8 million switch. Chavarria’s arrival is seen as a direct replacement for the former Chelsea left-back.
Deal details and release clause
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Chelsea and Rayo Vallecano have shaken hands on a €25 million (£21.4 million) fee, plus bonuses. The move represents the most expensive sale in Rayo Vallecano’s history, surpassing their previous record.
Rayo had initially demanded a higher fee, but they were forced to relax their stance given Chavarria’s release clause is set at €50 million (£42.8 million). Bayer Leverkusen had also shown strong interest, but Chavarria favoured a move to the Premier League, where he will work under Alonso.
Busy summer for Chelsea
Chavarria’s arrival continues a busy transfer window for Chelsea, who have already secured deals for Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, and Danny Welbeck. Additionally, Geovany Quenda has joined Alonso’s first-team squad after an agreement with Sporting was reached back in March.
Alonso recently addressed the club’s transfer activity, saying: “I’m sure that from today to the last day of the transfer window there will be a lot of links, a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them, it’s going to be a hard task. But for sure, we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance. We want to have a complete squad and we want to make a good team.”
Chavarria’s contract and expectations
Chavarria’s current deal with Rayo Vallecano was not due to expire until June 2030, but he is now expected to put pen to paper on a long-term contract with Chelsea. The Spaniard is already in England and will undergo a medical before the announcement is made official.
The signing is expected to bolster Chelsea’s defensive options, with Chavarria providing competition at left wing-back. His ability to play in a back three is seen as a key factor in Alonso’s decision to pursue him.
