The deal involves terminating his existing loan arrangement and facilitating a swift move to Leeds United on a new loan until the end of the season.
In an exclusive update posted on X (formerly Twitter) on January 15, 2026, Romano stated: “Facu Buonanotte will undergo his medical at Leeds United soon as it’s all approved also by Chelsea and Brighton. Exclusive story, confirmed.” This matches the phrasing of “everything is now fully approved” and signals that a medical is imminent, allowing the transfer to be wrapped up very quickly—potentially within days, given the winter window’s February 2 close.
Buonanotte, 21, joined Chelsea surprisingly last summer on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion as an emergency attacking option after the Blues missed out on targets like Morgan Rogers, Xavi Simons, and Fermin Lopez. He was intended to provide depth behind stars like Cole Palmer but has seen limited action: starting four matches in cup competitions (FA Cup and Carabao Cup) and making only one brief Premier League substitute appearance (45 minutes against Brentford in September). Under former manager Enzo Maresca, he featured more early on due to injuries to key players, but opportunities dwindled as the season progressed.
With Liam Rosenior now in charge following Maresca’s abrupt departure earlier in January, the new regime appears keen to streamline the squad and prioritize outgoings for fringe or underutilized players. Buonanotte’s move represents Chelsea’s first confirmed departure of the window (following earlier ones like Leo Castledine to Middlesbrough on a permanent). The Blues are actively working to offload others, including Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, and potentially David Datro Fofana (who has interest from Celtic, Royal Antwerp, and Derby County for a permanent exit).
The structure of Buonanotte’s transfer is straightforward: Chelsea and Brighton have agreed to interrupt the current loan spell, allowing the player to return briefly to the Seagulls before immediately joining Leeds on loan for the remainder of 2025/26. Leeds, pushing for promotion in the Championship under their current setup, see Buonanotte as a creative boost in attacking areas—his flair, dribbling, and goal threat from midfield or wide positions make him an attractive short-term addition.
This exit aligns with Chelsea’s broader January strategy under Rosenior and the club’s ownership (BlueCo): a relatively quiet window focused on pragmatic adjustments rather than major incomings. While the Blues are exploring centre-back options (e.g., internal talks about adding depth beyond pre-agreed future deals like Deinner Ordóñez for 2027), outgoings like Buonanotte help manage squad size, wage bill, and provide players with regular football. Other potential departures remain on the radar, but Buonanotte’s situation has moved fastest, with all parties aligned and medical pending.
For Buonanotte, this represents a chance to revive his momentum after a frustrating spell at Chelsea. The Argentine international prospect (capped at youth levels) impressed during previous stints and could thrive in Leeds’ high-energy style. If the loan proves successful, it might open doors for a permanent future elsewhere or even a reassessment at Brighton.
As developments unfold rapidly in the final weeks of the window, this “sudden exit” underscores the fluid nature of Chelsea’s squad rebuild under new management. Romano’s confirmation leaves little doubt—the deal is essentially done, with only formalities like the medical standing between Buonanotte and his Leeds switch. (Word count: 728)
