The "bomb squad" at Cobham is finally shrinking. On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, reports from Fabrice Hawkins and Tutto Mercato Web confirmed that AS Roma have opened formal negotiations with Chelsea to sign French defender Axel Disasi on an initial loan deal.
After being frozen out of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans for the entirety of the 2025/26 season, the 27-year-old center-back is reportedly "desperate" to reboot his career in the Italian capital.
The "Outcast" Reality
Disasi’s fall from grace at Stamford Bridge has been swift. After a productive loan spell at Aston Villa in the latter half of last season, he returned to Chelsea only to find the door firmly shut.
The "Bomb Squad": Disasi has spent the last four months training with Chelsea’s U21s or separately from the main group.
Zero Minutes: He has not made a single senior appearance this season, with his only competitive action coming in two Premier League 2 matches
for the development squad in November.
Maresca’s Stance: The Chelsea manager has publicly confirmed that Disasi is "no longer part of the technical project," leading the club to prioritize his departure to reduce a bloated wage bill.
The Roma Proposal: A Gasperini Request
The move to Roma is not a random occurrence. New Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini—who has already made waves by pursuing Joshua Zirkzee this week—is reportedly a "long-time admirer" of Disasi’s physicality and ability to play in a back three.
The Negotiating Table:
The Formula: Roma is pushing for a six-month loan with an option to buy for approximately €20 million.The Wage Hurdle: Disasi currently earns a significant salary in London. Reports suggest he is open to a wage cut to ensure the move goes through, prioritizing playing time over his current paycheck.
The Competition: While AC Milan and Newcastle United have made enquiries, Roma is currently the only club to have entered "direct negotiations" with Chelsea's sporting directors
Chelsea’s Loan Quota Headache
There is one potential complication: Chelsea's overseas loan quota.
Under FIFA regulations, clubs are limited in how many players they can send on international loans.
If Chelsea has already reached its limit for the 2025/26 season, they may be forced to push for a permanent sale or a domestic loan, unless they can recall or sell another player currently out on loan (such as Andrey Santos or Caleb Wiley) to free up a spot for Disasi.
The Verdict: For Disasi, Roma offers a "rescue mission" at a top European club. For Chelsea, it’s a chance to move a high-earning reserve off the books. If the loan quota hurdle can be cleared, expect Disasi to be undergoing a medical at Villa Stuart by the first week of January.