Chelsea are set to make their first signing of the summer by bringing in Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham.
Fulham have already confirmed that Tosin Adarabioyo will not be staying at the club after reaching the end of his contract.
It has been claimed that the central defender has already had a medical ahead of his move to Chelsea this summer.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Blues beat Newcastle United to Adarabioyo’s signature.
However, it does not look like the Magpies were the only Premier League side Chelsea had to defeat in the race for the 26-year-old.
Tosin Adarabioyo turns down the chance to join Chelsea’s London rivals
Chelsea were not the only club who gave Adarabioyo the chance to remain in London.
Another team from the capital wanted to sign him and there, he probably would have got more game time.
A report from The Athletic claims that Adarabioyo rejected a move to West Ham United.
According to the outlet, the former Manchester City man was not keen on a switch to the London Stadium because the Hammers were unable to offer him European football.
He will get that at Chelsea, with their sixth-placed finish this season earning them a spot in the 2024/25 Europa Conference League.
Was Tosin Adarabioyo right to reject West Ham?
It is true, Adarabioyo may not play as much at Chelsea as he would have at West Ham.
Even with Thiago Silva leaving Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca still has options in central defence.
Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah can all play there, though the last of those names is being linked with a move away from Chelsea.
At the same time, though, Fulham to West Ham would have been a bit of a sideways step.
Now in his mid-20s, there is nothing wrong with Adarabioyo testing himself at a higher level, which he will get the opportunity to do at Chelsea.