{"id":3847,"date":"2026-09-09T05:32:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T05:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3847"},"modified":"2026-09-09T05:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T05:32:34","slug":"what-crystal-palace-fans-thought-of-honest-ahanors-debut-ahead-of-chelsea-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3847","title":{"rendered":"What Crystal Palace fans thought of Honest Ahanor’s debut ahead of Chelsea move"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Honest Ahanor made his debut for Crystal Palace on Tuesday night as the Eagles cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup \u2013 and Palace fans have discussed the future Chelsea star\u2019s display.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ahanor, 18, had been linked with Chelsea<\/a> earlier in the window. But in the final few days of the summer market, the two-time Italy star was strongly linked with the Blues. However, there was a problem.<\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s settle this, Chelsea are better off with Reece James at right-back\u2026 \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

Do you prefer James in midfield or at right-back \u2013 and why?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The plan was to sign Ahanor and loan him to Crystal Palace. But with Axel Disasi set for Selhurst Park, Chelsea could not loan a second player to Ben Chilwell\u2019s new side under Premier League guidelines.<\/p>\n

So, officially, Ahanor remains an Atalanta player, on loan at Crystal Palace. But he will join Chelsea next summer. The deal is understood to be worth \u00a340m \u2013 and on Tuesday, he made his Palace debut.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace fans excited by Honest Ahanor\u2019s Eagles debut<\/h2>\n

New Palace manager Pierre Sage had not actually included Ahanor in any of Palace\u2019s matches this season. Obviously, he has only been available for a couple, but on Tuesday night, Ahanor was given a start.<\/p>\n

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Palace took on high-flying Championship side Middlesbrough, a tough test for Sage\u2019s side with Boro expected to push for automatic promotion. But Palace eased to a 3-0 win, Ahanor lasting the full 90. <\/p>\n

With Chelsea fans not quite sure what to expect from the left-footed centre-back, the reaction from Palace supporters will certainly give some indication after his debut on Tuesday night in the Cup.<\/p>\n

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Ahanor is the best thing I\u2019ve ever seen at the back. #cpfc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Packham (@MPackham31112) September 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The plaudits were aplenty as fans heaped praise on their signing. Many were excited by Ahanor\u2019s debut; one compared him to Marc Guehi: \u201cAhanor is Guehi when he first joined back in 2021. He\u2019s a starter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another simply posted: \u201cOh, we\u2019re going to love Honest Ahanor.\u201d Ahanor even had a hand in Palace\u2019s first goal, running from deep with the ball: \u201cHonest Ahanor what a run. Dare I say, even Guehi-esque.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I\u2019d be tempted to throw Honest Ahanor straight into the starting XI over Chris Richards this Saturday after seeing that display <\/p>\n

The guy oozes class, hard to believe he\u2019s only 18\u2026#CPFC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u1d2e\u1da6\u02e1\u02e1 (@Billy_Meyers98) September 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Another said he \u201clooked great\u201d, while one Palace fan is already dreading the day when Palace have to say goodbye to Ahanor when he eventually moves to Chelsea: \u201cWill probably miss him when he\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahanor\u2019s rise has not come without overcoming major obstacles<\/h2>\n

Described as \u201cfrightening\u201d by Alberto Gilardino<\/a>, Ahanor has made it to the Premier League and looks the real deal. It has not come without a fight along the way. Injury and Italian rules proving to be obstacles.<\/p>\n

Ahanor was always destined for the Italy side but he could not play for Italy\u2019s youth teams until he was 18, because his parents are Nigerian. Ahanor was even born in Italy, but did not gain citizenship before 18.<\/p>\n

He was immediately thrust into the U21 side, and now has two senior caps. That was tough, but even more so, was a five-month injury layoff shortly after his move to Atalanta. Now, Ahanor has made it.<\/p>\n

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