Axel Disasi joined Chelsea from Monaco on a six-year contract worth 45 million euros (£38.57 million).

Wesley Fofana has sustained a serious knee injury at Stamford Bridge, requiring defensive cover from Disasi, 25.

Monaco’s Ligue 1 team played all 38 games last season with him.

In an interview with Chelsea’s website, Disasi said, “I am really proud to be a part of such a great family.”.

My goal here is to win titles. I will do everything I can to achieve those goals. I am extremely ambitious.”

A fee has been agreed between the Blues and Brighton for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but several bids for the Spaniard’s teammate Moises Caicedo have been rejected by the Seagulls.

Disasi has represented France four times, including as a substitute in the 2022 World Cup final loss to Argentina, and made 129 appearances for Monaco since joining from Stade de Reims in August 2020.

After Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Angelo Gabriel and Diego Moreira, the centre-back becomes Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Disasi will compete with fellow central defenders Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, and Levi Colwill – who signed a new deal on 2 August – for a starting berth, while compatriots Benoit Badiashile will miss the start of the Premier League season with a hamstring injury, and Fofana is expected to be sidelined for several months due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“I am looking forward to feeling the energy of the fans,” Disasi said.

The passion of the fans, the atmosphere, the intensity of the games in the Premier League excite me.”

On Sunday, Chelsea’s pre-season fixtures ended with a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago, ending their undefeated US tour. The focus now turns to their opening Premier League match against Liverpool on 13 August.

The Tottenham manager has been given the task of overhauling the squad and improving on last season’s 12th-place finish.

This summer, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ethan Ampadu, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Abdul Rahman Baba, and former captain Cesar Azpilicueta have all left the club.

“Axel has demonstrated his quality over a number of seasons in France, and this has deservedly led to his international recognition,” co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley told the club’s website.

As he takes the next step in his career, we are delighted that it will be with Chelsea. We welcome him to the club and look forward to working with Mauricio Pochettino and his new teammates.”