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Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £60 million, comprising an initial £55 million fee plus £5 million in performance-related add-ons.
The 23-year-old is expected to sign a seven-year contract and could make his debut as early as Friday when Chelsea face Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final in Philadelphia (kick-off: 02:00 BST). He is currently flying in from Brazil to undergo his medical in the United States.
Newcastle United were reportedly among the clubs interested in Pedro, but Brighton rejected two previous bids from unnamed Premier League teams before finalising terms with Chelsea.
Pedro’s arrival follows Chelsea’s recent £55 million agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign English winger Jamie Gittens. However, Gittens is ineligible to feature in the Club World Cup, having already appeared in the competition for Dortmund.
A Productive Spell at Brighton
Joao Pedro joins Chelsea after an impressive two-year stint at Brighton, where he scored 30 goals and provided 10 assists in 70 appearances. He initially signed for the Seagulls from Watford in 2023 for a club-record £30 million.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler had left the forward out of their final Premier League game of the season against Tottenham, citing a “minor issue,” paving the way for the transfer to materialize.
Chelsea Continue Transfer Blitz
Pedro is the latest addition in a busy summer window for Chelsea, who have already spent around £170 million on young talent. Alongside Gittens, the Blues also snapped up striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30 million, Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo, and French defender Mamadou Sarr.
With their return to the UEFA Champions League and a potential Club World Cup triumph on the horizon, Chelsea believe there’s room for their expanding squad of forwards to thrive under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Pedro’s arrival is expected to prompt the departure of French attacker Christopher Nkunku, as both players operate in similar roles across the frontline.
Shake-Up in Attack
Chelsea are also preparing for further squad changes. Jamie Gittens is viewed as a long-term replacement for Jadon Sancho, who has returned to Manchester United following his loan spell for a £5 million penalty fee. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended after failing a drug test.
Delap, 22, offers much-needed cover for Nicolas Jackson, while 18-year-old Brazilian talent Estevão Willian has also joined from Palmeiras. Noni Madueke could be among the casualties of Chelsea’s forward reshuffle, with his future now uncertain.
Several senior players — including Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja, and Carney Chukwuemeka — were not included in Chelsea’s U.S. tour squad and are likely to be sold.
Focus Shifting to Player Sales
With key signings already secured, Chelsea are expected to slow their pursuit of additional targets and shift focus toward offloading surplus players. However, insiders suggest this could be challenging, as interested clubs may attempt to negotiate cut-price deals for Chelsea’s fringe players.
Still, Chelsea’s transfer strategy reflects a clear plan, aimed at building a deep, young, and dynamic squad. With a wealth of attacking options, the Blues are preparing to compete on multiple fronts in the 2025–26 season.
