Chelsea have signed Italy defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta for a fee of around £43 million. The 21-year-old has agreed a seven-year contract and is the first signing under manager Xabi Alonso.
The move brings in a player who can operate at full-back or wing-back. Palestra was named Serie A defender of the year last season after a loan spell at Cagliari that included 37 top-flight appearances.
He earned his first senior cap for Italy in a World Cup play-off victory against Northern Ireland in March. The defender could fill the gap left by Marc Cucurella, who departed for Real Madrid last month.
Palestra said a number of factors drew him to the club. “A lot of things convinced me to join Chelsea, one of the best clubs in the world,” he told the club’s website. He added that he is excited to work with Alonso and compete in the Premier League.
On Instagram, Palestra thanked Atalanta for the role the club played in his development over 11 years.
