Chelsea have confirmed the signing of right-back Malo Gusto, who will spend the remainder of the season on loan with Lyon.
The Blues wanted a new right-back to come in immediately and offer some competition for the injured Reece James, but after focusing on Gusto, they found Lyon unwilling to part with the 19-year-old midway through the season.
Understand Malo Gusto has completed medical tests as new Chelsea player, after landing in London early morning 🚨🔵🩺 #CFC
Contract until June 2029 — Chelsea will pay fee close to €30m but Malo Gusto will only join Chelsea in July, staying at OL until end of the season. pic.twitter.com/OuBMztUmgN
— Footballmint (@Footballminttt) January 28, 2023
Rather than move to another target, Chelsea opt to persist with a deal for Gusto and 90min understands a fee of around €30m was agreed for the Frenchman.
Now, Chelsea have confirmed that Gusto has signed a contract running until 2030 and has now returned to Lyon to see out the remainder of the season.
The deal is different to that involving RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku, whose move to Stamford Bridge will only be made official in the summer. Gusto is officially a Chelsea player already.
Gusto has earned plenty of praise in France since his breakthrough to the Lyon senior setup last season. He managed 54 appearances for the French side before his move to Chelsea, chipping in with six assists.
He becomes the Blues’ seventh signing of the winter, following Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos and Noni Madueke in heading to Stamford Bridge.
