Chelsea are beginning to reap the rewards of their ambitious spending since Todd Boehly and his private equity firm Clearlake Capital replaced Roman Abramovich in 2022.
It's been a twisting road for the Blues over the past several years, but Enzo Maresca has advanced after a promising, trophy-winning 2024/25 campaign to establish his side as budding Premier League title contenders.
Maresca leads a young squad. A hungry group of talented players yet to reach the top of the game.
Premier League's Youngest Starting XIs (25/26)
Club
Chelsea
Brentford
Man City
Bournemouth
Sunderland
Data via Transfermarkt
There are ostensible drawbacks to employing such a strategy, but it's bearing dividends, and the success will only grow over the coming years, with more set to follow in Estevao Willian's footsteps.
Estevao's start to life at Chelsea
In May 2024, Chelsea finalised a deal for Brazilian youngster Estevao, an initial £29m deal which could eventually rise to £52m with performance-related add-ons.
estevao-chelsea
18 years old, Estevao has enjoyed a dream start to his Chelsea career, having notched five goals from his first 17 senior outings for the Londoners.
With three goals in his past three Champions League outings, the hype is growing around his skilful and dynamic youngster, who outshone Lamine Yamal in the Blues' romping 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.
So intense is the hype around Estevao's potential that Como scout and analyst Ben Mattinson has labelled the Brazil international a "future Ballon d'Or winner", and that's definitely not out of the equation.
Estevao has what it takes to become London's most talented wide forward, for sure, perhaps taking that crown from Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka.
But the fact that Chelsea have landed themselves another Estevao-esque talent who could rival these cream-of-crop players is a perfect illustration of Chelsea's burgeoning strategy.
Chelsea have a talent "just like Estevao"
Arsenal have the lead in the Premier League title race, and there's no question that Mikel Arteta is deeper into his project than Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
But Chelsea are building something special, and they would welcome another poster boy to further strengthen Maresca's system. Well, that player could have already been signed in Geovany Quenda, with a £40m deal in principle agreed at the end of last season to welcome the Portugal U21 international in 2026.
geovany-quenda-sporting
Hailed as "one of the most exciting teenage prospects in Europe" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Quenda has "been on fire" for Sporting Lisbon this season, coming into his own on the right wing.
The 18-year-old's energy, pace and skill on the ball have seen him hailed as having a mentality "just like Estevao" - as per Alex Goldberg - that will see him succeed in the Premier League, endowed with an athletic underbelly to complement his blistering pace and skill on the ball.
Geovany Quenda vs Bukayo Saka (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)
Goals scored
Assists
Shots taken
Shot-creating actions
Touches (att pen)
Pass completion (%)
Progressive passes
Progressive carries
Successful take-ons
Ball recoveries
Tackles + interceptions
Data via FBref
His sharp-minded approach and combativeness on the ball could indeed see him emulate Saka. Sofascore record that Bissau Guinean-born Quenda has won 52% of his ground duels in Liga Portugal this term, and for one so young, this bodes well for a future in the harsh climate of the Premier League.
Furthermore, he is developing a ball-playing game that suggests he has the natural talent on the ball to emulate someone like Saka, having also followed in the Englishman's footsteps by shining at both full-back and wing-back, prior to cementing an attacking role on the flanks.
Whether the Portuguese talent would hit the ground running in the same way that Estevao has is uncertain, of course, but there's no denying he has the potential to rival his soon-to-be teammate.
A big factor in a winger like Saka's success (and Estevao's) is that he is able to merge the many elements together, forming something complete.
Quenda is already proving that he has similar qualities in the locker, and it is for this reason that there is such excitement brewing around his signature.
Chelsea, truly, are rebuilding themselves toward superstar status.
Chelsea-Eden-Hazard Related
[Hazard 2.0: Chelsea lead race to sign "best player on the planet" for £100m](https://www.footballfancast.com/hazard-repeat-chelsea-lead-race-to-sign-vinicius-junior/ "Hazard 2.0: Chelsea lead race to sign "best player on the planet" for £100m")
Enzo Maresca and Co could deliver Chelsea fans their next Eden Hazard by signing the international superstar.