Chelsea have reportedly agreed to a deal to sign João Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion. The deal is worth over £50 million, potentially reaching £60 million with add-ons. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward is expected to sign a seven-year contract with the Blues.
Pedro is now expected to join up with the Chelsea squad for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the USA, with registration needing to be completed before July 3rd. He will undergo a medical before flying to the USA. If signed before the deadline, Pedro could make his debut in the Club World Cup, potentially in the quarter-final against Palmeiras.
Chelsea have been keen admirers of Pedro for a while and advanced their interest just over ten days ago when they contacted Brighton about a possible move. Newcastle United had also shown interest in signing him and had a bid of around £50 million rejected last week. It is understood Pedro only wanted to play for Chelsea.
The signing of Pedro is part of Chelsea's strategy to strengthen their squad with a versatile forward. He has played in various attacking roles for Brighton, including No.9, No.10, and wide areas. With Christopher Nkunku expected to leave this summer, Pedro will provide support and competition for Cole Palmer.
This move marks Chelsea's fifth summer arrival, following the agreement to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund. Gittens, who completed the first part of his medical on Saturday, is also set to sign a seven-year contract. The fee to sign the 20-year-old is set to be €65m (£55.5m). Unlike Gittens, Pedro is expected to join up with the Chelsea squad at the Club World Cup.
Watford, who sold Pedro to Brighton for £35 million in 2023, will receive 20% of the profit from this deal. This clause is a standard practice in football transfers where the selling club receives a percentage of any future sale profits.
With the potential additions of Pedro and Gittens, Enzo Maresca will have more depth in his attacking line ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. It means the Blues now have at least two options in each position in the final third.
