Crystal Palace & Chelsea Reach Loan Agreement For Defender - Talks Ongoing Over Personal Terms | OneFootball

Chelsea are preparing for the new season after concluding their pre-season schedule. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Crystal Palace for defender Axel Disasi, according to reports.

Discussions have been ongoing between the two clubs over the 28-year-old, who has been targeted to bolster Crystal Palace's defence following the departure of Maxence Lacroix earlier this summer to Chelsea.

Several Chelsea players were offered during talks for Lacroix, who Chelsea paid around £52 million for, and Disasi emerged as a potential option for the Eagles.

Following negotiations, as reported by RMC Sport, Palace have verbally agreed to a loan deal for Disasi for the 2026/27 season, with a fee involved.

It's reported that the agreement includes no buy option at the end of the season, so the Frenchman will return to Stamford Bridge next summer.

Talks are now being held with Disasi and his representatives to reach an agreement. If one is reached, he will make the temporary switch to Selhurst Park.

Following the arrival of Xabi Alonso at Chelsea and his early admission of wanting only four or five centre-backs in 2026-27, the writing has been on the wall for Disasi, who was on loan at West Ham for the second part of last season.

Disasi was left out of Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia as he looked for a new club, with Crystal Palace looking to win the race to sign the central defender.

After Chelsea returned to their Cobham training base to continue preparations for their Premier League opener against Fulham on August 24, it was revealed that Disasi and many other players have been training in a separate, second group, away from Alonso's main squad.

Although they have not been banished, the second group consists of players who are up for sale and/or loan, as well as those looking to build their fitness.

Once Disasi leaves Chelsea this summer, whether on loan or permanently, he will follow Trevoh Chalobah out of Stamford Bridge after Chalobah's transfer to Como. Meanwhile, Benoit Badiashile is currently in Naples to finalise his loan switch to Napoli, which includes an option to buy.

Disasi's future was also plunged into further doubt, if there wasn't enough already, when Chelsea confirmed their squad numbers for the upcoming season. He was not given a shirt number.

With around two weeks left in the transfer window, Chelsea need to start making moves to finalise player exits. But the longer they wait, the more vulnerable they will be to having to accept unfavourable deals, especially since they hope to sell many players permanently rather than solve problems temporarily until next summer.

Many will be frustrated with the lack of permanency in the agreement should Disasi join Crystal Palace on loan, particularly when the Blues were faced with trying to sell Disasi this time last year - resolving his future hasn't been recently sprung upon them.