Chelsea newcomer Joao Pedro admits mystery star who’s never played at Stamford Bridge was key to his £60m transfer from Brighton

Joao Pedro has opened up about the unexpected influence that helped steer his £60 million move from Brighton to Chelsea. The Brazilian forward, whose transfer was officially unveiled on Wednesday, joins Chelsea amid an already busy transfer window which has seen the London club spend over £200 million. Prior to Pedro’s signing, Chelsea had also secured the arrivals of Liam Delap, Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez.

Pedro, who has accumulated five seasons in English football with stints at Watford and Brighton, was a key figure for the Seagulls, netting 30 goals over his two seasons at the club. His performances reportedly caught the attention of Chelsea, but it was an internal connection that proved pivotal in convincing him to agree to the move.

Andrey Santos, a fellow Brazilian who joined Chelsea in January 2023 but has yet to make his Premier League debut, played a crucial role in Pedro’s decision. Pedro revealed, “I was talking with Andrey [Santos] on Instagram. I asked about the guys, about the club, and he said good things about the team, so it’s good to join.” Santos, who has been loaned out to Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest, and Strasbourg since signing, only recently made his Chelsea debut in the Club World Cup.

Pedro also reached out to former Chelsea defender David Luiz for broader career advice, although their conversations did not focus specifically on Chelsea. Meanwhile, Chelsea are aiming to secure their first title in the newly-expanded Club World Cup. They are set to face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals after a hard-fought extra-time victory over Benfica in the previous round. With his contract now signed, Pedro is eligible to feature in the upcoming fixture and is believed to have committed to an eight-year deal.

The club announced Pedro’s arrival in style, releasing a video showing the ex-Brighton forward juggling a football on a beach to the backdrop of Brazilian jazz, accompanied by the message: “Welcome to Chelsea, Joao Pedro.” Pedro expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history. They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing – win.”

During his tenure at Brighton, Pedro established himself as one of the club’s standout performers, contributing 30 goals and 10 assists in just 70 matches. His form attracted the interest of several top clubs, with Chelsea ultimately winning the race for his signature.

Pedro now follows in the footsteps of other former Brighton players such as Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez, and Marc Cucurella, who have all made the move to Stamford Bridge in recent years. With his arrival, Chelsea hope to inject further attacking prowess and experience into their squad as they compete on multiple fronts this season.