Previously, N'Golo Kante completed a free transfer to Al-Ittihad, while Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech are expected to finalize moves to Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr, respectively. Koulibaly is now the latest player to make the switch to the Middle East, ending his one-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Although the specific transfer fee has not been disclosed, it is reported that Chelsea stands to recoup around €23m (£19.78m) for the Senegalese international. While this represents a significant loss compared to the £33m spent less than a year ago, Chelsea's management is under pressure to generate income before June 30 to ensure financial stability.
In addition to Koulibaly, if Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz also depart for Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively, Chelsea will be better positioned to meet their financial obligations. This will allow newly-appointed head coach Mauricio Pochettino to include Levi Colwill, an academy graduate who impressed during a loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion last season, in the first-team squad for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Colwill is seen as a natural replacement for Koulibaly and is expected to compete with Benoit Badiashile for the left-sided centre-back position once the Frenchman returns from injury. During his time at Chelsea, Koulibaly made 29 starts and three substitute appearances across all competitions, with only 20 of those starts coming in the Premier League. The club finished the season in 12th position in the Premier League table.
The decision to sell Koulibaly aligns with Pochettino's desire to work with a smaller squad, allowing for more focused team-building and player development.
