Chelsea are said to want to sign 17-year-old Brazilian defensive star Luis Eduardo from Gremio next year for more than €10 million. The Blues want to strengthen their defence by signing a promising centre-back in 2026. Now, the Gremio wonderkid has become a top target for the West London team after shining at the Under-17 World Cup.
Reports say that the FIFA Club World Cup winners are ready to make a bid of more than €10 million to get him in the next few months. This package is likely to include several performance-related extras, but it’s not clear whether the Brazilian club will accept an offer much lower than the teenager’s reported release clause.
Since BlueCo bought Chelsea, the team’s recruitment team has continued to look for high-potential South American players. Eduardo fits the mould of the long-term defensive assets the club is always looking for.
Brazilian journalist Fabio Vargas says that Chelsea are really interested in Luis Eduardo and sees him as a future partner for Levi Colwill. The Premier League giants want to finalise a deal, but recent reports say that Gremio will try to keep the teenage star at the club for as long as possible.
Gremio have protected their asset with a high release clause, reportedly around €60 million. This makes Chelsea’s initial offer a possible sticking point in talks. But the chance to move to Europe and the project at Stamford Bridge could be the most important factors.
Chelsea has recently signed several talented young players from South America, and the defender may want to follow in their footsteps. There will also be a lot of competition, with teams like Manchester United reportedly keeping an eye on his progress. This makes the Blues even more eager to make a deal quickly.
Who is Chelsea target Luis Eduardo?
Luis Eduardo is the most recent promising young player to make a name for himself in Brazil. He is known as one of the best young defenders in the country. The teen prospect is from Corrente in the state of Piauí and has spent his formative years working his way up at Gremio.
He is 1.88m tall and has a strong physical presence and modern ball-playing skills. These traits have helped him develop quickly in the club’s academy.
The 17-year-old currently plays for Gremio’s under-20 team, but he has already played for the senior team in the Gaucho State Championship, where he played 56 minutes. His fame around the world grew a lot during the recent Under-17 World Cup, where he played a big role in Brazil’s defence.
These performances on the world stage have caught the eye of top European scouts, and Chelsea are now at the front of the line to sign him.