Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Pep Chavarría, giving the green light on the player's side for a move to Stamford Bridge. The Rayo Vallecano left-back has made his intentions clear. He wants Chelsea, and specifically, he wants to play under Xabi Alonso. Club to club talks remain underway, but momentum is building fast.

A Priority Target After Missing Grimaldo

Alonso's search for a new left-back took a detour when Alejandro Grimaldo chose Atletico Madrid over a reunion with his former Leverkusen coach. Rather than dwell on the setback, Chelsea pivoted quickly toward Chavarría. Consequently, he's now emerged as the preferred alternative, and talks have accelerated at pace.

Losing Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid left a genuine gap in Chelsea's backline. Jorrel Hato remains talented but young, so an experienced addition makes sense. Chavarría fits that profile perfectly. He's tied to Rayo until 2030, meaning Vallecas holds real leverage in negotiations, yet neither side appears willing to let the deal stall.

Why Alonso Wants Him

Chavarría's numbers explain the appeal. He ranked among La Liga's best full-backs for defensive duels and possession won last season, helping Rayo reach the Europa Conference League final. His versatility across left-back and wing-back roles suits Alonso's tactical flexibility, particularly with a back-three system under consideration for next term.

An initial nine million euro bid was rejected, pushing Chelsea into direct club to club discussions to bridge the gap. Given the player's willingness and Alonso's personal endorsement, sources close to the deal expect an agreement soon. Should terms align, Chavarría would become the latest experienced signing in Chelsea's summer rebuild.