World Cup
Chelsea seal Marco Palestra deal with €55m fee
Italian midfielder Marco Palestra has agreed to join Chelsea, with the London club offering €55 million plus €5 million in bonuses and a €6 million per‑season salary, more than double the personal terms Inter Milan proposed. The deal follows a loan spell at Cagliari that had him poised for a move to the San Siro.
Atalanta were prepared to accept a transfer package of €45 million plus €5 million in bonuses, with negotiations focusing on the structure of add‑ons and clauses. The Italian club had already progressed to the final details of the deal.
Inter Milan countered with personal terms for Palestra reported at €2.5 million per season. The offer aimed to secure the midfielder’s signature before the window closed.
Chelsea entered the race after an instruction from coach Xavi Alonso to acquire the Italy international. The London side moved swiftly to outbid their rivals.
Chelsea’s salary proposal exceeded Inter’s by more than double, rising from €5 million to €6 million per season, club’s transfer fee was set at €55 million with an additional €5 million in performance bonuses, as reported by Sky Sport Italia. This amount comfortably surpassed Inter’s and Atalanta’s proposals.
During his loan at Cagliari Calcio, Marco Palestra featured in Serie A matches against AC Milan and Juventus FC, the latter where he contested the ball with Francisco Fernandes da Conceicao. He also appeared for Italy in a World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play‑off against Bosnia & Herzegovina, duelling with Tarik Muharemovic.
The completion of the deal adds depth to Chelsea’s midfield as Xavi Alonso prepares his squad for the upcoming season. Palestra’s arrival is expected to enhance the club’s competitive options.