Chelsea are set to complete a deal for Italy defender Marco Palestra, with Standard Sport understanding that the first signing of the Xabi Alonso era could be finalized on Wednesday. The fee is reported to be around £43 million, and personal terms are not expected to be an issue, with Palestra poised to pen a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.
How Chelsea Beat Inter Milan
Chelsea moved quickly to secure the transfer, overtaking Inter Milan in the past 24 hours to win the race for the Atalanta right-back, who has been on loan at Serie A rivals Cagliari. Palestra, a native of Milan, spent one season in Inter's academy during the 2013/14 season before moving to Atalanta.
Who is Marco Palestra?
Palestra came up through Atalanta’s academy system and made his first-team debut in August 2024, featuring only nine times for the Bergamo-based side that season. He was loaned to Cagliari, where he made 37 appearances, scoring once and assisting four goals. Operating primarily as a right-back, he can also push forward as a wing-back or switch to the left, thanks to his two-footedness.
Impressive 2025/26 Season
His performances were so impressive during the 2025/26 campaign that he was voted into Serie A’s Team of the Season and named the division’s top defender. He also earned his first senior caps for Italy during the March international break. All of this attracted reigning Serie A champions Inter before Chelsea swooped in.
Physical and Technical Attributes
The full-back stands at 6ft 1in and has real pace going forward. With an average top speed of 27.96 km/h, he was the fastest player in Serie A last season. Beginning his youth career in midfield, Palestra is also an astute technician, completing the most dribbles (68) of any defender in Europe’s top five leagues in 2025/26.
Competition at Chelsea
Palestra will compete for a place in Chelsea’s backline with Malo Gusto, who featured in 34 league games last season but is now being linked with a reunion with former Blues boss Enzo Maresca at Manchester City. Gusto is currently at the World Cup with France, but Palestra is not after Italy missed out on qualification once again. One of his first appearances for his country was as a substitute in the heartbreaking UEFA play-off final loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Instead, Palestra will look to impress incoming boss Alonso straight away.
