Chelsea have agreed a £47 million deal to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, with the player set to sign a six-year contract subject to a medical.
Monaco rejected an earlier £38.5 million (€45 million) bid from Chelsea on transfer deadline day before the clubs reached an agreement.
Chelsea moved for Camara as they seek to strengthen their midfield following Enzo Fernandez’s £125 million transfer to Manchester City in a joint-British record deal.
Roma midfielder Manu Kone was also considered as an option, while Chelsea explored other midfield targets in the Premier League.
Camara, 22, has spent the past two years at Monaco after joining from Metz in 2024.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have completed their agreement to sign Fernandez for £125 million, matching the British transfer record set by Liverpool for Alexander Isak last summer.
Chelsea are expected to make about £18 million in profit on Fernandez, who joined the club from Benfica for £107 million three-and-a-half years ago.
Chelsea have also continued to reshape their squad with several departures.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has completed a season-long loan move to Serie A side Como after falling down the pecking order following Emi Martinez’s arrival from Aston Villa.
Midfielder Dario Essugo has joined sister club Strasbourg on loan for the season, while striker Deivid Washington has completed a permanent move to the French club.
Washington joined Chelsea from Santos for £17.1 million three years ago but made only three appearances for the club.
Forward Dujuan Richards has also joined Wimbledon on a season-long loan.
Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka has arrived in Glasgow ahead of his loan move to Celtic, with the Scottish club also working to finalise a deal for Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo.
