Fabrizio Romano shares how Chelsea beat Newcastle in the race for Tosin Adarabioyo

Add as preferred source on Google

Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo looks set to become Chelsea’s first signing of the summer.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on Saturday that Chelsea were on the verge of landing Tosin Adarabioyo from their west London rivals.

He has now also shared how the Blues won the race for the centre-back.

Adarabioyo will be playing under a new Chelsea manager next season following Mauricio Pochettino‘s exit from the club last month.

Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca has agreed to take over from the Argentine.

Fabrizio Romano on Chelsea and Newcastle United’s battle for Tosin Adarabioyo

According to Romano, Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Newcastle United were actually the ones who were close to signing Adarabioyo.

However, the transfer expert has revealed that Chelsea’s project was able to convince the 26-year-old to choose the Blues over the Magpies.

In his column for CaughtOffside, Romano said: “Chelsea are about to sign a new centre-back with the free transfer of Tosin Adarabioyo. A verbal agreement has been reached, and documents will be signed next week after his medical tests if everything goes to plan.

“Newcastle were close to signing the defender, who is a free agent after deciding to leave Fulham, but the deal was never done. They were one step away, but it was never a done deal in terms of things being signed, it was just advanced talks. Chelsea have been able to convince him on their long term project, the vision, and Enzo Maresca’s ideas were also shared during their conversations.”

• READ MORE: Chelsea convinced Tosin Adarabioyo can emulate £40m Manchester City defender

Should Tosin Adarabioyo have chosen Chelsea over Newcastle United?

At Newcastle, Adarabioyo probably would have got more game time there.

His imminent move to Chelsea will see him have to compete against Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana for a centre-back spot.

There is Trevoh Chalobah as well, though he is currently being linked with a move to Manchester United.

Ultimately, if Adarabioyo wanted guaranteed minutes, then a switch to Newcastle may have made more sense. But he clearly fancies his chances at Chelsea, and there he will have European football, even if it is just the Europa Conference League at first.

Badiashile and especially Fofana, have had their injury problems this season, however, so maybe he will get an adequate amount of football during the 2024/25 campaign.