Ahanor, a centre-back born in 2008, joined Atalanta from Genoa in the summer of 2025 and made 22 appearances in Serie A during the 2025/26 season, adding nine more in the Champions League as he broke into Gian Piero Gasperini's first-team plans at just 17.
Chelsea are not the only Premier League club showing interest, though they may already be playing catch-up. Brighton have emerged as the front-runners for Ahanor's signature, having already lodged a bid in the region of €34million, only for it to be rejected by Atalanta.
According to reports in England, Brighton have now moved ahead of both Chelsea and Arsenal in the race, despite their opening approach being turned down. The south-coast club were also active in Italy in recent days, having agreed a deal to sign defender Michael Svoboda from Serie B champions Venezia.
Atalanta, who are under no financial pressure to sell, are believed to value Ahanor considerably higher than the roughly €20million they paid Genoa for him just a year ago, with reports in Italy suggesting a fee in the region of €30-40million would be required to prise him away from Bergamo this summer.
The Nerazzurri are also poised to bank significant funds from the separate departures of MArco Palestra to Chelsea and Ederson to Manchester United, reducing any urgency to cash in on Ahanor before his value climbs further.
Ahanor has continued to catch the eye on the international stage, too, having recently won his first senior caps for Italy under interim head coach Silvio Baldini in friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, having previously represented the country at under-21 level.
Whether that rising profile ultimately takes him to Stamford Bridge, the Amex Stadium, or keeps him in Bergamo for at least another season remains to be seen, but suitors are clearly circling.