Chelsea on Thursday signed defender Benoit Badiashile from AS Monaco on a seven-and-a-half-year contract.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 21-year old Badiashile has spent five seasons in Ligue 1 and made 135 league appearances for Monaco. The central defender recently made his senior debut for France, having represented Les Bleus all the way up from Under-16 level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm very happy to be here at Chelsea. I'm so excited to start playing for this club," said Badiashile in a club statement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I can't wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the world," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Frenchman has featured in the Champions League and Europa League for Monaco, making almost 150 appearances in all competitions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Badiashile earned a regular place as Monaco's left-sided centre-back while still a teenager and was handed his international debut by Didier Deschamps back in September aged just 21, a reward for his prominent role in back-to-back third-place finishes for the Principality side in Ligue 1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We're delighted to welcome Benoit to Chelsea.He's an excellent young player who has quickly established a strong reputation for himself and has a huge amount of experience for his young age. We are sure he will form an important part of our team in the years ahead," said Blues chairman Todd Boehly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Graham Potter's side sit 10th in the Premier League, after earning a point against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We're delighted to welcome Benoit to Chelsea.He's an excellent young player who has quickly established a strong reputation for himself and has a huge amount of experience for his young age. We are sure he will form an important part of our team in the years ahead," said Blues chairman Todd Boehly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n