Brazilian hot-shot Joao Pedro is on his way to Chelsea after the Blues agreed a fee worth more than £50m to snare him from Brighton & Hove Albion. Pedro, who was also a major target for Newcastle United, set his heart on a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Sam Jewell, a recent addition to the Blues’ recruitment team, was instrumental in profiling Pedro for Brighton in his previous role with the Seagulls. His growth in a Brighton jersey has been sufficient to see Champions League contenders make serious bids this summer.
With the likes of Christopher Nkunku and João Felix expected to depart west London in this summer’s transfer window, João Pedro is a much-needed addition to the Chelsea forward line. He’ll compete with the likes of Nicolas Jackson and fellow new signing, Liam Delap, for a starting berth.
Many would argue that this trio of attacking options should give Chelsea a serious boost in finishing inside the top four of the Premier League again next season. However, the bookmakers don’t appear to share that optimism, with Newcastle still favoured over Enzo Maresca’s side. Despite Pedro’s impending arrival, Wildz Sports still have Chelsea priced as 2.75 fifth favourites for a top-four finish, with the Magpies priced at 1.90.
These odds look even more surprising when you consider Newcastle’s squad is in a state of flux. There are question marks over the long-term future of star striker Alexander Isak. With only Will Osula in reserve, the Magpies would need to invest heavily to replace Isak if he leaves this summer.
Exploring João Pedro’s vital statistics
João Pedro arrived on the scene in English football in 2020 as a 19-year-old when Watford signed him from Fluminense. He played for the Hornets in two Premier League seasons before scoring 11 goals in 35 EFL Championship appearances in 2022/23.
This form alerted him to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he’s spent the last two seasons, scoring 19 goals in 58 Premier League appearances.
João Pedro could fly out to join Chelsea in the US
Chelsea are still one of the leading contenders to win the 2025 Club World Cup. The Blues have reached the quarter-final stage and have a chance to go deeper. Under the terms of their deal with Brighton, Joao Pedro will be allowed to fly out to America to join up with Enzo Maresca and his squad. This could give the Blues yet another attacking option to try and get them over the line and win the prize worth $100 million to the tournament winners.
Pedro has been pencilled in for an immediate medical in the US, after flying into America from Brazil on 29th June. Pedro has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge and this represents a £20 million profit for Brighton on the £30 million they paid to Watford in the summer of 2023.
Chelsea’s summer spending shows no signs of slowing up, with Borussia Dortmund wide man Jamie Bynoe-Gittens also set to join the Blues in a deal worth £55 million.
In fact, Chelsea’s summer spending has crashed through the £200 million mark, as they continue to build a squad capable of competing in the Champions League again. Question marks will once again be raised about the legitimacy of their investment and whether it abides by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) framework.
The club are battling to comply with the Premier League’s spending rules for the concluded 2024/25 season. The Blues cannot lose over £105m in a three-year period. According to football.london, Chelsea will comply with PSR so long as their losses don’t extend beyond £300 million for 2024/25. The impending sale of João Felix for around £45 million could be the deciding factor.