Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, has yet to give Axel Disasi a chance to play this season. However, according to reports in France, Lyon is hoping to sign Disasi from Chelsea in the January transfer window. Disasi's future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain as he has not played a single minute for Chelsea this season and has been excluded from the first team by Maresca.
Last season, the 27-year-old central defender was on loan at Aston Villa and made ten appearances in all competitions. He was looking to secure another temporary move for the 2025/26 campaign. However, he was forced to train separately from the first team and was even demoted to Chelsea's "bomb squad." Despite this, Disasi stayed with the team as the transfer deadline passed.
Chelsea would be open to selling Disasi this winter, but the conditions must be suitable for all parties involved for a permanent transfer to be approved. L'Equipe reports that Lyon's management has expressed interest in Disasi and has been in talks with his representatives for several days. Lyon is in urgent need of reinforcements at the heart of their defense as they are set to lose their first-choice center-backs, Angola's Clinton Mata and Senegal's Moussa Niakhate, to the Africa Cup of Nations this month.
Disasi joined Chelsea in 2023 from Monaco for a fee of £39 million. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa and has made a total of 61 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions. Lyon is looking for a center-back with experience and proven pedigree, one who can immediately join their starting XI. While they are considering a loan deal, a permanent transfer for the Frenchman is also an option.
Additionally, Lyon is also in advanced discussions to sign 19-year-old Real Madrid and Brazil forward, Endrick, on loan for the second half of the season.
Maresca's squad won the Europa Conference League title last season, with Disasi as a part of the team. He also started in the 2024 Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, which ended in defeat for Chelsea. Disasi's current contract with the club runs until June 2029. In September, Maresca revealed that he has not seen or heard from Disasi or Raheem Sterling, who has also not played for Chelsea this season.
"They are Chelsea players, but at the moment they are training separately and the plan is to continue in this way," Maresca said in a statement. "Since the season started, I haven't seen either of them. I haven't seen Axel or Raheem. They train at a different time and on a different pitch. I haven't seen them since the start of the season."
