Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is set to welcome Brighton attacker Facundo Buonanotte, with the club close to sealing a season-long loan move.
The deal, confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, includes no buy option, although Chelsea will have the right to match future bids if terms can be agreed with Brighton.
The 20-year-old Argentine, capped twice at senior international level, had been expected to join Leeds United on loan.
However, Chelsea moved quickly to hijack the deal, taking advantage of existing connections within their recruitment department.
Co-sporting director Paul Winstanley and global recruitment chief Sam Jewell both worked at Brighton and know Buonanotte well.
Buonanotte spent last season at Leicester City, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 35 appearances, though he was unable to prevent the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship.
His arrival adds further attacking depth to Enzo Maresca’s side, which has already secured the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.
Chelsea remain in the market for creative reinforcements despite missing out on Xavi Simons, who is set to join Tottenham in a €60m move.
Meanwhile, Brighton forward Julio Enciso is finalising a £13.8m switch to Chelsea’s partner club Strasbourg, with the long-term view of eventually joining the Blues.
Chelsea’s aggressive recruitment drive comes amid strict financial pressures.
The club was fined £26m by UEFA earlier this summer for breaching spending rules and must maintain a positive transfer balance to register players for the Champions League.
To fund arrivals, Chelsea have already raised a Premier League-record £265m in sales, with Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, and Alfie Gilchrist among those departing.
Further exits are expected before the transfer deadline on 1 September. Nicolas Jackson is the latest to depart, with Bayern Munich sealing a €15m loan deal that includes a non-mandatory €80m buy option and a sell-on clause.
The 23-year-old striker will fly to Bavaria with his agent Ali Barat, ending speculation over his future after Newcastle’s pursuit cooled following their signing of Nick Woltemade.
Alongside Jackson, Chelsea are still working on moves for Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and Tyrique George as they continue reshaping Maresca’s squad.
