Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £60 million, marking their latest high-profile acquisition ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The 23-year-old has signed an eight-year contract with the West London club and has already joined his new teammates in the United States for the global tournament. Pedro is eligible to feature in the quarter-final clash against Palmeiras in Philadelphia on Saturday, with Chelsea hopeful he will make an instant impact.
Pedro, who scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton and was the top scorer in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League group stage, said joining Chelsea was a dream come true.
“I grew up watching the Premier League, and Chelsea were a club that won trophies,” he said. “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’.”
While Newcastle had submitted a £50 million bid for Pedro, it’s understood the Brazilian only wanted a move to Stamford Bridge.
Pedro becomes the fourth Brighton player to make the switch to Chelsea since 2022, following Marc Cucurella (£63m), Robert Sanchez (£25m), and Moises Caicedo (£115m). The cumulative transfer spend on Brighton players now totals £260 million.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised the deal as beneficial for all parties involved.
“It’s an excellent deal for the club and a good return on our investment,” Hurzeler said. “It’s also an exciting move for Joao – Champions League football, Chelsea’s ambitions, and the World Cup next summer are major incentives.”
Brighton originally acquired Pedro from Watford for £35 million in 2023. As part of the original agreement, Watford will receive 20% of the profit from this sale. Brighton had not planned to sell Pedro this summer, but growing interest and Pedro’s ambition to compete at Europe’s highest level influenced their decision.
Despite Pedro’s on-pitch contributions, his departure also comes after a red card incident against Brentford and a training ground altercation with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke. While not considered a disciplinary risk, the incidents added to speculation about a summer exit.
Pedro’s move could give him a platform to secure a regular spot in Brazil’s national squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For Chelsea, the forward offers versatility across the front line and is seen as a long-term attacking asset under their evolving squad strategy.
With the Club World Cup providing Pedro the chance to win silverware in his first weeks at the club, all eyes will be on his debut in blue.
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