Chelsea have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Brazilian forward Joao Pedro for a fee exceeding £50 million ($68.5 million). The 23-year-old has agreed to personal terms on a contract until 2032, according to multiple reports.
Pedro chose Chelsea over Newcastle United despite interest from both clubs. The versatile forward is currently traveling from Brazil to the United States to complete his medical before joining Chelsea\'s squad at the Club World Cup.
The signing represents Chelsea\'s continued investment in attacking talent during the summer window. Pedro joins striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town and Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens as new additions to the forward line.
Chelsea have also secured Dario Essugo, Estevao, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez through pre-existing agreements. The club has departed ways with Jadon Sancho after his season-long loan spell.
Pedro\'s arrival comes after he missed Brighton\'s final two matches following a training ground altercation with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler addressed the incident, stating it was handled internally and considered the matter \"closed.\"
This transfer continues Chelsea\'s recent pattern of recruiting from Brighton. The Blues have previously signed Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez from the south-coast club in recent seasons.
Pedro has earned three caps for Brazil since his international debut in November 2023. The forward\'s versatility and ability to drop deep while creating chances for teammates made him an attractive target for Chelsea\'s attacking setup.
The Brazilian\'s signing adds further depth to Chelsea\'s already extensive attacking options as they prepare for the upcoming season.