Chelsea have confirmed a deal to sign Italy international Honest Ahanor from Atalanta, but the teenage defender won't arrive at Stamford Bridge straight away.
According to BBC News, the 18-year-old will instead spend the remainder of this season on loan at Crystal Palace before officially completing his switch to Chelsea in 2027.
The agreement is reportedly worth up to £40m, underlining the growing reputation of the young Italian centre-back, who has already broken into the senior national team setup despite his age.
The unusual structure of the deal allows Ahanor to continue his development in the Premier League at Palace, gaining regular first-team experience under Oliver Glasner before eventually linking up with Enzo Maresca's squad at Chelsea once the loan period concludes.
Chelsea have made a habit of snapping up promising young talent from across Europe in recent transfer windows, and Ahanor's signing fits that pattern — investing early in a player they believe has the potential to become a long-term fixture in west London, even if it means waiting more than a year to actually work with him.