Teenager Honest Ahanor is set to join English club Chelsea next season, but he will remain with Italian side Atalanta for the rest of the current campaign on loan at Crystal Palace. The deal, which could be worth up to £40 million, involves Ahanor officially becoming a Chelsea player in the summer of 2027. However, he will first join Crystal Palace for the 2026-27 season, allowing him to gain experience in the Premier League before moving to Stamford Bridge. Ahanor expressed his excitement about the move, saying, "I'm very happy to be here and to be a part of this great family. To be at one of the best clubs for young players in the Premier League is something which makes me grateful and excited." Chelsea's interest in Ahanor began when they signed right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta earlier this year. The agreement allows Ahanor to play for Crystal Palace this season, with the understanding that he will join Chelsea in 2027. This move comes after Chelsea signed center-back Maxence Lacroix from their London rivals, Fulham, for £52 million last month. Additionally, Chelsea have loaned defender Axel Disasi to Palace for £3 million, further strengthening the link between the two clubs. Under Premier League rules, a club is generally limited to loaning one player to another team in the same division. However, this arrangement is a workaround, as Ahanor will be officially purchased by Chelsea in 2027 but loaned to Palace by Atalanta in the interim. This type of deal allows the player to gain Premier League experience while the buying club avoids immediate financial obligations. Such tactics have raised questions about how clubs navigate the league's regulations, especially when loopholes are identified. Ahanor, who is 18 years old and an Italy international, has already made a name for himself in Italian football. He joined Atalanta from Genoa in 2023 on a three-year deal for around €16 million, with additional add-ons. Last season, he made 28 appearances in Serie A and became a regular starter. He also made his Champions League debut in a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge in September. Recently, he was called up by the Italian national team for friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece. Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Marc Guiu has moved to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig in a £14.6 million deal, which includes potential add-ons. Guiu, who joined the Blues from his boyhood club Barcelona in July 2024, made 29 first-team appearances for Chelsea, scoring eight goals. His departure marks another significant transfer for the club as they continue to reshape their squad ahead of the 2026-27 season.