Honest Ahanor is joining Crystal Palace on loan from Atalanta ahead of a pre-agreed transfer to Chelsea.

reported last week that Chelsea had reached an agreement for the 18-year-old to join the Blues, had agreed personal terms with the defender, and that he had been given permission to travel to London for a medical.

But Chelsea have now decided to loan him out, and he is joining Palace.

It means that Ahanor will officially be joining Palace on loan from Atalanta and will then join Chelsea in summer 2027.

That is because Chelsea have already sent a player on loan to Crystal Palace this summer. Axel Disasi joined the Eagles on a season-long loan deal that includes no option nor obligation to make the deal permanent.

Teenager Ahanor is a product of the Genoa academy and has already represented Italy twice at senior level, making his debut earlier this year.

Ahanor made 28 Serie A appearances for Atalanta last season and made his Champions League debut last September.

Meanwhile, Chelsea remain interested in the Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara and are exploring a move for the 22-year-old as Enzo Fernandez’s future remains uncertain after he missed a second successive Chelsea match amid interest from Manchester City.

Explaining Fernandez’s absence for the 4-3 win over Brighton at the weekend, Blues manager Xabi Alonso said: "We assess what's best for the team and considering everything, the situation, we need a team that is focused, with everyone involved that's fully committed and engaged with the game."