Chelsea’s squad will be injected with some Brazilian flair next season when Andrey Santos and Estevao Willian arrive.
The average age at Chelsea could drop even lower once both Andrey Santos, 20, and Estevao Willian, 17, join the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
Santos, who’s an all-action central midfielder, is enjoying a superb season-long loan at Strasbourg in France. The youngster has scored nine goals in 26 appearances across all competitions this campaign, even captaining the team in recent games.
The good news is that Santos has been earmarked for Chelsea’s squad already next season.
As for Estevao, the Blues announced last year that the teenage winger will be joining them in the 2025 summer. In the meantime, he’s been dazzling in his native Brazil in the Palmeiras first team, where he’s scored 20 goals in 59 appearances since a senior breakthrough.
It’s been claimed that Chelsea will integrate Estevao next season into their first team straight away.
Photo by Adriana Spaca/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
Photo by Adriana Spaca/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
Andrey Santos praises future Chelsea teammate Estevao Willian
During an interview this week, Santos has delivered a glowing praise on future Chelsea teammate Estevao. In fact, he’s heard that the teenager is a “great person” and he can’t wait to link up with him in West London.
Santos told ESPN Brazil: “Estevao is a top-quality player, world-class. I’m a good friend of Savinho (from Manchester City), he said he’s a great person. God willing, he’ll go far and we can create a great duo at Chelsea, a duo of Brazilians.”
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Chelsea signing Estevao is included in the world’s most exciting teenagers, ranking second on the list behind Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.
The fact that Estevao already has four senior international caps for Brazil at his age is quite telling. Incidentally, the 17-year-old rising star was an unused substitute in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia on Friday in a World Cup qualifier.
Photo by FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images
Andrey Santos the highest rated central midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues
Like Estevao, Santos is making a lot of noise with his quality performances this season. It’s why Chelsea supporters should be very excited about the Brazilian pair joining up with them in the summer.
Remarkably, WhoScored data shows that on-loan Strasbourg ace Santos is actually the highest rated central midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with an average match rating of 7.35.
The Blues midfield has been a bit stretched at times this season due to Romeo Lavia’s injury problems, so the introduction of Santos to the squad next season should be a real help. He will be arriving with so much confidence from his own form, too.