Lucas Chevalier, the 23-year-old goalkeeper from Lille (contract until 2027) and a member of the French national team, is reported to be close to joining Paris Saint-Germain in this transfer window to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma (26 years old, contract until 2026, with contract extension talks stalled). L’Équipe confirmed on Thursday evening that his arrival is imminent and revealed the behind-the-scenes details.
“Including bonuses, the deal is approaching €55 million, with some bonuses easily achievable.
Lille has also decided to make a step toward PSG in this matter. Initially adamant about finding a replacement before allowing Chevalier to leave, Olivier Létang eventually agreed to sanction the departure without signing a new goalkeeper.
The Frenchman did not accept to join Paris with the risk of losing his spot during the season, but because Luis Enrique and Campos assured him that he was the goalkeeper they needed to continue the team’s collective progress. Even though the coach never guarantees playing time to new signings — and even explains to goalkeepers that there will always be competition — Chevalier would never have agreed to join PSG if Donnarumma’s stay was certain.
The Premier League remains the most plausible option for the Italian, but neither of the Manchester clubs nor Chelsea — all interested — have yet made an offer to Paris.”
The whole story is credible, including the €55 million price tag, which was also reported earlier by RMC Sport. While that is a significant sum, especially for a goalkeeper, it would also highlight how much importance PSG places on Chevalier’s arrival. Still, the figure remains to be confirmed, as nothing is official yet.
Not even the transfer itself, although it seems very close to being completed. That calls for caution when it comes to claims about the details of an agreement or the various discussions. However, it is safe to assume that Chevalier has a genuine hope of being the No. 1 and is not taking the major risk of being a backup one year before the World Cup. On the contrary, joining PSG could help him take a step forward in the national team, even if it will be challenging.
In any case, coexisting with Donnarumma would seem complicated. Neither goalkeeper wants to be a backup, and fierce competition between goalkeepers has very rarely worked well — never at PSG. But finding a suitable deal for the Italian is not impossible, though far from easy.”
