Estevao Willian has discussed his start to life at Chelsea, giving massive credit to captain Reece James for his emergence.
Chelsea made a fair few attacking additions in the summer, but Estevao has looked a cut above the rest.
Arriving at Stamford Bridge with a ridiculous amount of hype, it was hard to imagine the 18-year-old could live up to the expectations.
But he has exceeded them all.
Maresca has heaped praise on Estevao for his early-season form, and he’s making a case for signing of the summer. But the Brazilian isn’t taking all the credit, explaining how James has helped him thrive in a blue shirt.
Estevao Willian celebrates with Trevoh Chalobah after Chelsea beat Liverpool in the Premier League.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Estevao explains how Reece James has helped him at Chelsea
Moving from Brazil to England at such a young age felt like a massive challenge for Estevao, but the transition has been seamless.
Of course, his talent has a lot to do with it. Estevao has amazed his Chelsea teammates with his raw ability and maturity on the pitch. But off the pitch, he credits the effort James has made to help him cope with the move.
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, he reveals: “An Englishman who always helped me, even before I arrived, was Reece James. He’s a spectacular guy who’s always talked to me since I arrived here.
“On the field, we kind of play together, so he’s always talking to me. Before, they had to translate, but now I’m able to communicate better with him. Besides being the captain, he’s one of the pillars of the team, and I was very happy with all the support that not only he, but everyone in the group, gave me.”
James is the leader of this side — the longest serving player for the Blues and a shining example of what it means to play for Chelsea.
His leadership is huge, especially given how many young players are in the squad. Estevao’s reveal should come as no surprise. James is an inspiration to many Chelsea youngsters.
Reece James of Chelsea celebrates with the Champions League Trophy with his Sister, Lauren James
Photo by Manu Fernandez – Pool/Getty Images
Estevao on the pressure of playing for Chelsea
When you watch Estevao on the pitch, he never looks panicked or overwhelmed.
He was asked about the pressure of playing for such a big club, but the former Palmeiras star appears unfazed.
He says: “I wasn’t even worried about that because I’m 18 years old. Nobody is 100% ready at 18.”
Maybe not 100%, but close enough.
At just 18 years old, Estevão has already scored in all three competitions Chelsea have played in this season 🤯
A serious talent to keep an eye on 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/a19CSabiG0
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) October 29, 2025
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Estevao knows what’s important, and clearly has a strong support system behind him: “I knew how to handle it calmly, my family has always been by my side, that’s what matters most.
“It doesn’t matter if I lose a game, if I win a game, I know I can count on my family and that’s the most important thing. Being able to help Chelsea, help in a derby, make the fans proud, is what makes me happiest.”
All signs point to this being the start of a long and fruitful career at Stamford Bridge. There has been plenty of speculation around Chelsea’s best attack moving forward, but Estevao’s place should be locked down for the foreseeable future if his current form holds.