Ahanor loaned to Crystal Palace, set for Chelsea in 2027

Honest Ahanor is set up for a clear next step. As Fabrizio Romano reports, the Chelsea will pay £40m to Atalanta for the 18-year-old Italian centre-back—but won’t keep him immediately.

Loan route for this season

The plan is straightforward: Honest Ahanor will join Crystal Palace for this season on loan. Romano frames it as a confirmed “exclusive story”, with the deal already described as done.

After that, the operation connects to the longer-term destination. According to the same source, the agreement includes that from the summer of 2027, Ahanor will become a Chelsea player. So Crystal Palace is the sporting destination for the current campaign, while Chelsea is the final stop from the next transfer window.

The numbers and the two-stage structure are what make this move notable. Chelsea pays for a young prospect with upside, then uses a Premier League loan to help his development with first-team minutes.

For now, the key remaining items are the official confirmation of the loan timing and how the defender will fit into Palace’s plans as the season starts.