Chelsea Football Club is in talks to sign João Pedro, a star forward from Brighton & Hove Albion. These talks have become more serious after Chelsea completed a £55 million deal for a player named Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea wants to secure the 23-year-old Brazilian forward, who has become a key target for them after Newcastle United had two of their offers turned down by Brighton.
Brighton wants £60 million for Pedro. He has scored 30 goals in 70 matches since he joined from Watford in 2023.
Chelsea’s renewed interest in Pedro is part of their plan to strengthen their attack under manager Enzo Maresca.
Pedro can play in different positions, either as a central forward or on the wings. He could be a replacement for Christopher Nkunku, whose future with the team is uncertain.
Reports from The Guardian and Daily Mail suggest that Pedro prefers to move to Chelsea because he likes the idea of playing in London and being part of European competitions.
This preference gives Chelsea an advantage over Newcastle, which had its £50 million offer rejected last week, followed by Chelsea’s rejected £58 million bid.
Brighton knows they have Pedro under contract for three more years, and they have a sell-on clause for Watford, making them less willing to lower their asking price. They are demanding more than £60 million.
Brighton is also confident about their position because Pedro has performed well in the current season, scoring eight goals and making four assists.
Former Brighton striker Bobby Zamora has praised him as a possible future star for Brazil.
Chelsea’s recruitment team, led by Sam Jewell (who helped bring Pedro to Brighton), is optimistic about completing the deal, especially after their success with Gittens’ transfer.
Newcastle is still interested in Pedro, but they have a tough challenge as Chelsea seems to be making quicker progress, with fans suggesting Chelsea is outpacing their rivals.
The excitement among Chelsea fans is growing as they see Pedro’s ability to score goals and play in different roles as valuable additions to the team.
If Brighton’s asking price is met, talks are expected to move quickly, possibly making Pedro Chelsea’s second major signing soon.