Chelsea failed in an attempt to sign Germany international Niklas Sule from Hoffenheim last month, according to the player's agent.
Sule, 21, starred for Germany as part of the team which won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Rio, and that form reportedly prompted Chelsea to bid €30 million before the transfer window closed.
The centre-back opted to continue his development in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, and on the final day of the window Chelsea re-signed David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain.
Sule, who is contracted to Hoffenheim until the summer of 2019, wants to stay at the club for at least one more season.