Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro is set to join Chelsea ahead of the new Premier League season.
Newcastle United were also in for Pedro, but the Brazilian has chosen the Conference League winners as his next club.
The Magpies will be extremely frustrated, as this is not the first time that a player has rejected them for Chelsea.
Eddie Howe witnessed the same thing happen last year after Tosin Adarabioyo decided to join the Blues instead of his side.
Tosin Adarabioyo speaking after Chelsea's victory against Real Betis
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Tosin Adarabioyo turned down Newcastle move last year
Adarabioyo was available on a free transfer after opting against signing a new contract at Fulham and looked to be heading to Newcastle at one stage.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, while Newcastle were close to landing his signature, Chelsea were able to convince Adarabioyo with their long-term project.
They may have done the same with Pedro, though the chance to move to London is likely to have played a big part in his decision to sign for the Blues.
When Brighton’s Igor Julio spoke about Pedro’s future last month, he said: “He always told me that he really wants to live in London, so I think he will prioritise what comes from there first.”
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Pedro and Adarabioyo are now set to be teammates, with the latter being an example that the former can follow.
Brighton attacker Joao Pedro with his hands on his hips during the Premier League match against Everton.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Joao Pedro needs to make even more of an impact than Tosin Adarabioyo
Adarabioyo has quietly been a very good signing for Chelsea. The 27-year-old cost the club nothing, has added experience to Enzo Maresca‘s young squad and done a job whenever he has come into the side.
Ultimately, Adarabioyo has been quite a reliable figure for them in central defence and has even managed to chip in with a few goals. It was the former Fulham man who opened the scoring for Chelsea in their 3-0 win against Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Club World Cup.
Adarabioyo was once described as “magnificent” by Tony Mowbray (via Blackburn Rovers’ official club website) while out on loan at Ewood Park, and hopefully Maresca will be able to say the same thing about him and Pedro next season.
The ex-England youth international was questioned by some for choosing Chelsea instead of Newcastle, feeling that he would not get game time at Stamford Bridge. Adarabioyo, though, has got opportunities and taken them and thus proven his doubters wrong.
Pedro now needs to do the same. In fact, being a forward, he has to make even more of an impact than Adarabioyo.