Chelsea are believed to have activated a £35million release clause in Michael Olise’s contract.
The west London club now expect to complete the signing of the Crystal Palace winger in due course.
The 21-year-old France Under-21 international would join a number of new signings at Chelsea if the deal is finalised.
Olise is currently sidelined after tearing his hamstring at the Under-21 European Championship, which could prevent him from playing until the end of September.
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Olise signed for Palace on a five-year deal from Reading in 2021.
He has since gone on to establish himself as an important player for Roy Hodgson’s side and enjoyed an outstanding year for Palace in 2022-23, winning the player’s player of the season and the club’s goal of the season awards.
He became the first Palace player ever to claim 10 or more assists in a Premier League campaign, the youngest-ever player to claim three assists from open play in one English top-flight match, and his 11 assists ranked him fourth in the division.
Chelsea have spent heavily in the summer transfer window with Moises Caicedo’s British record £115m arrival on Monday taking their outlay to more than £275m.
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Analysis from Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam
Olise has developed significantly over the last 12 months, becoming more defensively capable and influencing games more in attack.
Although an introverted and complicated character off the pitch to those with whom he is not familiar, he is extremely confident on it — a winger who enjoys drawing his man in, before moving the ball away, to then dart down the touchline and often cutting inside on his left foot.
His decision-making has also improved dramatically, learning better when to cross or take the shot on himself.
But he is still a work in progress and there is room for further improvement.
Olise will leave a considerable gap in Palace’s squad.
His attacking talent is unrivalled in this squad and no other player offers anything similar in style. But it also leaves them with few wide options after Wilfried Zaha left to join Galatasaray at the end of his contract in the summer.
He will be sorely missed and prove difficult to replace.
(Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
