Marco Palestra gives Xabi Alonso assessment as Chelsea pursue new transfer following £47m deal
Chelsea have sealed the signing of Marco Palestra from Atalanta for £47 million, hijacking the deal from under the noses of Inter Milan.
Standard Sport understands the overall package could rise to £52 million with add-ons, with an initial fee of around £43 million and a further £5 million in performance-related bonuses. The 21-year-old Italian international has signed a seven-year contract running until 2033, and the deal also includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause. Chelsea view the versatile right-back as a player who can go straight into Xabi Alonso’s starting lineup, with his ability to play at right wing-back, right-back and even deputise on the left flank providing immediate tactical flexibility.
Palestra, who spent last season on loan at Cagliari making 37 league appearances and was named Serie A Defender of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign, did not hide the influence Alonso had on his decision. “It was very important,” he said. “I feel a lot of energy from him. Also, he is one of the best managers in the world [as you can see when] he won at Bayer Leverkusen. It is important for me to have Xabi Alonso as the manager. I have had two conversations with him and I’m very happy because he told me what he wanted from me. I’m very happy to know him and to start training with Chelsea.”
Why Xabi Alonso was the deciding factor
Alonso’s appointment as Chelsea manager on a four-year contract from 1 July — the sixth permanent manager of the BlueCo era — has given the club a clear identity in the transfer market. The Basque coach’s tactical flexibility, particularly his reliance on wing-backs in a 3-4-3 system, is a natural fit for a player of Palestra’s profile. The Italian, who was converted from a central midfielder to a winger and then a right-back during his youth development at Atalanta, recorded 81 successful dribbles in Serie A last season — more than any other defender in Europe’s top five leagues. He also ranked third in the league for attempted dribbles (118) and fifth for touches in the opposition box (67), contributing one goal and four assists with an average FotMob rating of 7.03.
Alonso’s track record at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the club to an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double and set a European record of 51 competitive matches unbeaten, was a clear reference point in the conversations he held with Palestra. “He told me what he wanted from me,” the defender said, underlining the personal approach Alonso has taken since arriving in west London. Inter Milan had been favourites to sign the 21-year-old until Chelsea entered the race last week, offering a financial package and wages the Serie A side could not match. His salary includes bonus incentives.
Palestra, who won the UEFA Europa League with Atalanta in the 2023/24 season and made his Champions League debut in November 2024, has two senior caps for Italy and has represented his country at U18, U19 and U21 levels. He also won Serie A’s Speed Award for the highest average top speed in the 2025/26 campaign.
Next on the list: Chavarria, Xhaka and Lacroix
Meanwhile, Chelsea are working to bring in Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria. Club-to-club talks are ongoing, though an initial offer of €9 million (£7.7 million) has been rejected by the La Liga side. Chavarria, 28, is a late bloomer who did not make his top-flight debut until he was 24 and has since played over 100 La Liga matches for Rayo Vallecano and Real Zaragoza. He reached the UEFA Europa Conference League final last season, losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace, and made his European bow at the age of 27. Known for his energy, work rate and ability to overlap, underlap or step into midfield, Chavarria is under contract at Rayo Vallecano until 2030 after extending last year.
Xabi Alonso is personally keen on the deal, seeing the Spaniard as a replacement for Marc Cucurella, who departed to Real Madrid for £51.8 million. Chelsea intend to promote Jorrel Hato to a greater role at left-back, with Chavarria providing cover and Palestra able to slot in on the left when needed.
Elsewhere, the Blues have had an £8 million offer for Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka rejected. Alonso is understood to be keen on a reunion with his former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder. Chelsea are also interested in Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, a pursuit that — alongside the signing of the 21-year-old Palestra — suggests a shift in recruitment policy towards more experienced players, moving beyond solely targeting emerging talents.
