Pep Chavarria is not the kind of signing Chelsea supporters have come to expect. He did not make his La Liga debut until he was 24, and his first taste of European football arrived only at 27 — a UEFA Conference League appearance for Rayo Vallecano against Swedish side Hacken in October. He was sent off that night. Yet Chelsea are now reportedly closing in on the 28-year-old left-back, and his former coach believes the move makes complete sense.

A different path to the top

Chavarria's journey has been anything but straightforward. He arrived at Real Zaragoza in 2020 having come through third-tier side UE Olot, a background that would raise eyebrows at most top clubs. But Jose Ramon Rodriguez, who coached him at Zaragoza, spotted something immediately. "We saw the talent right away," Rodriguez tells Sky Sports. "He was able to perform at an intensity well above the level of the Spanish second division."

Rodriguez is quick to note that the physical tools were always there — it was the finer details that needed sharpening. "This is a player who has improved a lot, both technically and in his decision-making," he explains. "He has had to struggle a lot to get to where he has reached."

The word that comes up most often when Rodriguez discusses Chavarria is mentality. "He was a player who sacrificed himself a lot, who liked to train a lot. His way of training never let him down. He would always give the maximum."

Rising through Rayo Vallecano

Chavarria joined Rayo Vallecano in 2022 under Andoni Iraola, a coach renowned for demanding relentless intensity from his full-backs — and for using them aggressively in overlapping positions. It proved a perfect fit. Under Iraola's successor, Inigo Perez, Chavarria has evolved further, becoming comfortable underlapping and stepping into midfield, not merely sprinting up and down the flank.

Last season delivered the crowning moment for both player and club, as Rayo reached a European final — a remarkable achievement for the modest Madrid side. Chavarria was central to their campaign, recording over 2,000 touches in La Liga and ranking among the top dozen players in the competition for crosses from open play and corners won. Equally impressive, he also featured among the top dozen for blocking crosses and winning possession in the defensive third — a genuine two-way threat.

Questions he must answer

The reservations are real. Chavarria has never played outside Spain, let alone in the Premier League, widely regarded as the most physically demanding domestic league in the world. His aerial vulnerability at set pieces — a consistent weak point — could be exploited in England, though it is worth noting that Marc Cucurella, whose departure for Real Madrid opens the door for this transfer, faced similar doubts and overcame them.

His attacking output also needs to grow. A spectacular strike against Atletico Madrid in September was his only goal last season — and he actually accumulated more red cards than goals, including one late dismissal at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid. Xabi Alonso will want considerably more from his left-back in attack, given the influence Alex Grimaldo had from that position during Alonso's time at Bayer Leverkusen.

Why Rodriguez backs him

Rodriguez believes the character questions answer themselves. "He is a team player who gives 200 per cent every day," he says. "He is a very good team-mate who creates a very good atmosphere and every team-mate wants to have him in the dressing room." During a difficult spell at Zaragoza, it was Chavarria who refused to make excuses and pushed those around him to demand more of themselves.

"When he went to the second division, the demand increased and it increased again in the first division," Rodriguez adds. "This mentality makes you think that he could reach a higher level." At every step, Chavarria has silenced the doubters. If the Premier League is next, Rodriguez has no reservations. "If he goes to Chelsea, it is because he deserves it."