- Chelsea officially complete the signing of Lyon right-back Malo Gusto
- The Blues have been on the market for the young Lyon defender
- Malo Gusto returns on loan to Lyon and will join Chelsea for the 2023/2024 season
Chelsea has officially completed the signing of Lyon defender Malo Gusto.
The Blues had hoped to sign the full-back in January, but a deal with the French club has been reached, and he will remain with his current team for the rest of the season.
Chelsea has had injury problems on both sides of their defence this season, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell missing time due to injury.
Graham Potter has used Cesar Azpilicueta or Trevoh Chalobah to replace the former, but neither player possesses James’s qualities.
Chelsea responded by entering the market for additional competition, with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and Josip Juranovic, who recently left Celtic for Union Berlin, linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.
Recce James’ backup
Chelsea sign Malo Gusto to strengthen their right-back options.|PHOTO: Getty Images|
However, it was revealed last week that Chelsea had decided on Gusto as their first choice after being impressed by the 19-year-progress old’s at Lyon.
This season, the France Under-21 international has made 15 starts in the Premier League and contributed six assists in 54 appearances.
Despite Chelsea’s efforts to sign Gusto before the end of the month, Lyon insisted that the youngster stays in France for the rest of the season.
“I can confirm that Malo [Gusto], a great hope for Lyon, will stay here at least until the end of the season,” President Jean-Michel Aulas told L’Equipe earlier this week.
Gusto is now a Chelsea player, having signed a contract until 2030 three days after making those comments.
While no fee has been disclosed, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Chelsea has agreed to pay a fee of €30 million (£26.34 million) plus add-ons.
Gusto’s arrival brings Chelsea’s January signings total to seven, following Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Joao Felix, and David Datro Fofana.
According to reports, Chelsea will now try to sign a new central midfielder while also attempting to reduce their squad numbers before Tuesday’s deadline.
Gusto becomes Graham Potter’s seventh signing
Malo returns to Lyon back on loan for the rest of the season.|PHOTO: Goal|
Gusto becomes Graham Potter’s seventh transfer window signing, joining Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Andrey Santos, and David Datro Fofana. When he rejoins the squad in the summer, he will provide Potter with quality backup and competition for Reece James.
He is one of the world’s most highly-rated young right-backs, having made 54 senior appearances and being a France Under-21 international. He has yet to score a senior goal but has five defensive assists.
Gusto will officially join his new teammates ahead of the 2023/24 season, having signed a six-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2030.
Gusto will continue to play regular first-team minutes for Lyon for the rest of the season, which will help him improve his game. The fee spent brings the Blues’ January spending to £213.7 million, and even though the transfer window is still open, he may not be the final acquisition.
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