Chelsea are close to finalizing a key component of their summer rebuild after agreeing a deal with Rayo Vallecano for Pep Chavarría.
The Spanish defender is expected to cost €25 million, with another €5 million potentially due in bonuses.
Xabi Alonso needs a specialist on the left after Marc Cucurella's move to Real Madrid created a clear vacancy.
Jorrel Hato can cover the role, but Chelsea still require a natural full-back who can overlap, defend aggressively and provide width.
Following a busy window built around immediate first-team upgrades, this move would address one of the squad's clearest remaining weaknesses.
According to reports, Chelsea have agreed a €25 million fee with Rayo Vallecano, plus €5 million in bonuses, with Chavarría having accepted personal terms on a contract running until 2032.
The transfer fits Chelsea's wider summer strategy, which has seen them add several new players, including Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, and Danny Welbeck.
Chavarría would balance that business by strengthening a defensive position rather than adding another attacker.
His versatility would also allow Alonso to switch between a back four and wing-back system without using another player in an unfamiliar role.
Chavarría is not the glamorous name normally associated with Chelsea's biggest transfers, but that may be why the deal makes sense.
He is energetic, experienced, and capable of playing as a traditional left-back or an attacking wing-back, and at 28, he should arrive ready to contribute immediately rather than needing several seasons of development.
The €25 million plus bonuses is fair value, and the Premier League will test him, but Chelsea need dependable width and experience more than another long-term project.
