OFFICIAL: Malo Gusto joins Chelsea on a deal until June 2030 and will spend the rest of the season on loan at Lyon.
The exciting 19-year-old right-back has signed a contract at Stamford Bridge to summer 2030 and heads back to France for the remainder of the current campaign to continue with Lyon in Ligue 1, where he has made 15 league appearances.
Gusto, who has been capped at Under-21 level by France, progressed through the youth ranks at Lyon and made his senior debut in January 2021.
The following season was a breakthrough for the attack-minded full-back, becoming a regular for Lyon both domestically and in Europe. He registered four assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances, while also helping his side reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
That fine form has continued this campaign under the stewardship of Laurent Blanc, with Gusto a key part of the OL backline as they sit in 8th place in the French top flight.
The defender will now continue his impressive progress on loan at the Groupama Stadium before joining up with the Blues in the summer ahead of the new campaign.
Chelsea would like to thank Lyon for enabling Malo to take up this new opportunity.
Welcome to Stamford Bridge, Malo!
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Lyon full-back Malo Gusto on a permanent deal.
The Blues have struck a £26.3million deal with the French outfit to sign the highly-rated defender until June 2030.
However, the France under-21 international will stay on loan with the Ligue 1 side for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season.
Chelsea were keen to bring in a right-back alternative to Reece James and identified 19 year-old defender Gusto.
But, the Blues were met with initial resistance to their interest from Lyon with president Jean-Michel Aulas publicly declaring Gusto 'will continue to play' for Lyon until the end of the season.
He will join Christopher Nkunku as a pre-agreed summer arrival after Chelsea also finalised a £53m deal to sign the France forward from RB Leipzig.
Gusto, 19, has made 54 appearances for Lyon's first-team in three years and has become a regular feature in their starting line-up, despite his age.
Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei, their £12m summer signing from Inter Milan, is to join Reading on loan after this weekend.
Gusto has become Chelsea's seventh signing of this window including the loan capture of Joao Felix.
There remains the possibility of an eighth with central midfield another department Chelsea are keen to strengthen.
They have so far been frustrated in their attempts this month to land the likes of Benfica's Enzo Fernandez, Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Everton's Amadou Onana.