Chelsea has completed the £60 million signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton, and the Brazilian forward is available for the Club World Cup quarterfinal match against Palmeiras on Saturday.
Pedro, 23, signed an eight-year deal after completing his medical in the United States. The match, scheduled for 2:00 a.m. BST in Philadelphia, could see him make his debut in Chelsea blue.
“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” Pedro said following the announcement. “They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join. You know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing win.”
Pedro began his career at Fluminense before moving to England in 2020 to join Watford. He signed for Brighton in 2023 for just under £30 million a club record at the time and scored 30 goals in 70 appearances across all competitions.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler supported the move. “It’s an excellent deal for the club,” he said. “It’s also an exciting move for Joao he will have the chance to play Champions League football and push for a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad.”
Pedro’s arrival adds to Chelsea’s growing list of summer signings. Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr, and Dario Essugo joined the squad before the Club World Cup began and were registered in time for the group stage.
Chelsea also had a £55 million offer for 20-year-old English winger Jamie Gittens accepted by Borussia Dortmund. However, Gittens will not feature in the Club World Cup, having already played in the tournament for Dortmund.
The Blues’ transfer activity remains aggressive despite financial scrutiny. The club has now spent over £1.4 billion assembling its current squad. Chelsea’s strategy has focused on signing young players on extended contracts with lower wages, aiming to increase future transfer value.
The club’s financial room could expand further depending on how the Premier League rules on the recent internal sale of Chelsea Women to parent company BlueCo for £198.7 million. If the transaction is approved, experts project the club could spend up to £200 million more in the next window. If rejected, Chelsea may need to offload players before making additional moves.
Chelsea will also benefit financially from their ongoing Club World Cup campaign. The run is expected to earn the club more than £50 million. Participation in next season’s Champions League is also set to strengthen their revenue stream.
The Club World Cup continues this weekend, with Chelsea eyeing their first title in the competition. Pedro’s possible debut could offer an early look at what the Brazilian forward adds to a squad that continues to grow in both value and ambition.
