Chelsea have officially completed the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton in a transfer worth up to £60 million. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward has penned a seven-year contract and has already jetted off to the United States to join Enzo Maresca’s squad at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Pedro will be eligible to feature for Chelsea during the tournament, with the registration window for new players open between June 27 and July 3. That means he could make his debut as soon as the quarter-final clash against Palmeiras in Philadelphia this Saturday, giving him a shot at winning silverware within his first month at the club.
Speaking about his move, Pedro shared his excitement:
“I grew up watching the Premier League, and Chelsea were a club that won trophies. So, when you join Chelsea, you can only think one thing: to win trophies. Every competition, you have to think, ‘I play for Chelsea and that is my ambition.’”
Newcastle United had also shown strong interest in Pedro, reportedly making a £50 million offer that Brighton rejected. However, Pedro is understood to have his heart set on Chelsea.
Brighton will share part of the profit with Watford, who sold Pedro to them for £35 million in 2023 and negotiated a 20% sell-on clause.
Chelsea regard Pedro as a versatile forward capable of operating as a central striker or across the front line. He arrives with an impressive record of 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton.
This latest transfer takes Chelsea’s spending on Brighton players to a remarkable £260 million since 2022, following the previous arrivals of Marc Cucurella (£63m), Robert Sanchez (£25m), and Moises Caicedo (£115m).
