Chavarria heading to Chelsea as Blues land Cucurella successor

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The Football Faithful

·7 August 2026

Chavarria heading to Chelsea as Blues land Cucurella successor

Pep Chavarría is travelling to England today to complete his transfer to Chelsea.

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign the Rayo Vallecano left-back for an initial fee of €19m, with a further €2m in potential add-ons.

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The West Londoners finalised the agreement with the Spanish side on Thursday evening, with Vallecano granting the defender permission to head to the UK for a medical.

Why Chelsea believe Pep Chavarria can succeed Marc Cucurella at Stamford Bridge

Xabi Alonso has identified Chavarria as an ideal replacement for Marc Cucurella, who departed for Real Madrid earlier this summer.

Chelsea’s interest in Chavarria may have surprised supporters unfamiliar with either La Liga or Rayo Vallecano’s left-back, while the 28-year-old deviates from the usual age profile of Chelsea’s recruitment.

However, the Spaniard shares several characteristics with Cucurella, who overcame a difficult start at Chelsea to become one of the world’s leading left-backs.

Rather than simply signing another left-back, Chelsea appear to be targeting a profile they already know works.

Like Cucurella, Chavarria is diminutive in size but tenacious in his work. Last season, he ranked among the top full-backs in La Liga for accelerations (2nd), percentage of duels won (3rd), and interceptions per defensive action (4th), while sitting in the top 10 players for progressive actions, progressive carries and through passes completed.

His ability to press high and aggressively, while covering large spaces, were hallmarks of Cucurella’s game.

Alonso often opted for a wing-back system at former club Bayer Leverkusen and Chavarria will offer a more recognised wide outlet than Jorrel Hato, who deputised at left-back on occasion last season. The Dutchman, arguably, is more suited to a left-sided centre-back role, which could offer Chelsea a nice interchange if Alonso again works with the shape that served him well in Germany.