Mauricio Pochettino spending tops £135m as Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing

French defender Axel Disasi has been on the radar of several clubs this year. Credit: Getty Images/Ina Fassbender

Chelsea have announced the signing of Monaco defender Axel Disasi for nearly £40m.

A £38.5m move for the 25-year-old Disasi followed behind Wesley Fofana's longstanding knee injury earlier this summer and deprives Mauricio Pochettino of up to £135m in summer expenses.

«This is what I've been waiting for,» Disasi said.

“I am so happy to be here at this big club. I am very proud to be a part of this great family and I hope to be very successful here. To win titles. I will do everything in my power to achieve these goals. I am very ambitious.”

Disasi also revealed how he relaxes away from football by teaching himself how to play the piano.

“I started playing the piano when I was at Reims, my club. before Monaco, when I was going through a difficult period. It helped me a lot because it allowed me to think about other things,” he said.

“I like the sound. It's peaceful and relaxing. I learned on my own, little by little. I took a small piano and started watching lessons on YouTube. Even if there are periods when I don't practice much, I have learned some pieces and it allows me to think about something else.

“I know it's important to clear your head sometimes so you can unpack. To be the best on the pitch, I know I need to share my thoughts.”

Telegraph Sport reported earlier this month that Chelsea are seriously considering entering the transfer market for a new defender after Fofana tore his anterior cruciate ligament. .

Disasi, who has made four appearances for France, has previously attracted the attention of Manchester United and is a former teammate of Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile.

The Frenchman became Chelsea's fifth summer player after Christopher Nkunku (£52m) sterling), Nicholas Jackson (£32m), Brazilian winger Angelo (£13m) and Portuguese teenager Diego Moreira (free).

Injuries to Fofana and Badiaxile left Chelsea unable to play in central defence, where Thiago Silva, Trevo Chalobah and Levi Colville are currently Pochettino's available seniors. Bashir Humphreys, 20, is still a regular in pre-season.

Colville's future was a source of constant speculation this summer before he signed a six-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge.< /p>

Brighton were keen to sign him permanently after his impressive loan spell on the south coast last season, but Chelsea refused to accept any offers.

Brighton's Moises Caicedo remains Chelsea's top target for the summer but they are not yet up to Brighton's valuation of the player, which is believed to be around £100m. Chelsea's latest £80m offer was immediately rejected by Brighton last week.

Romeo Lavia is another midfielder Chelsea have expressed interest in, although they will have to beat Liverpool in race for the teenager from Southampton. . Southampton are reportedly valuing the Belgian international for around £50m.