Lamine Camara Speaks Out After Chelsea Move Collapsed

Lamine Camara said he has moved on from the collapsed deadline-day transfer that would have taken him from Monaco to Chelsea.

A £47m fee was verbally agreed between the two clubs in the closing hours of the window before Monaco withdrew at the last moment. Chelsea sources described the French side's conduct as "extraordinary and deeply unprofessional," having received written confirmation of the deal only for Monaco to renege after the deadline had passed.

"There was a possibility I could leave," Camara told French media. "It didn't go through at the last minute and that's part of football. I've turned the page and am focusing on the season."

The move had been tied to Folarin Balogun's proposed switch from Monaco to Everton. Chelsea believed Monaco's willingness to sell Camara depended on that £40m deal going through. When it looked in doubt on deadline day, Monaco lowered their asking price for the 22-year-old, and the Camara deal was revived once Balogun had undergone a medical at Everton. Balogun then had a change of heart and the whole move collapsed, taking Camara's transfer down with it.

Camara had already completed his own medical at Chelsea, who were chasing a replacement for Enzo Fernández. The midfielder's £125m move to Manchester City, a joint-British record, had been sanctioned just hours earlier.

Camara started for Monaco in their 1-1 draw away to Strasbourg on Saturday, a club owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo. "I can help the Team A lot," he said. "Football moves fast. Maybe other opportunities will come along. But for now..."