Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth a reported £60 million.
The 23-year-old has signed a long-term contract that runs until 2033 and becomes the fifth major signing of the summer under American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” Joao Pedro said. “They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now. So I am excited to join, and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing, to win.”
Pedro, who has joined up with Chelsea’s squad at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, is eligible to feature in Friday’s quarter-final against Palmeiras.
The Brazil international scored 10 goals in 32 appearances for Brighton last season and 30 goals in total during his two-year stint with the Seagulls. His move follows a growing trend of players making big-money switches from Brighton to Chelsea, following in the footsteps of Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, and Moises Caicedo.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler welcomed the deal.
“This is a good move for all parties. It’s an excellent deal for the club and a good return on a significant investment in an area where we have a lot of attacking depth,” he said.
Chelsea’s aggressive transfer strategy under Boehly and Clearlake has seen the club spend over $1 billion on new signings since their 2022 takeover, including record-breaking fees for Enzo Fernández and Caicedo.
Joao Pedro joins a growing list of new arrivals this window, including Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Kendry Paez, and Mamadou Sarr.
The move also strengthens Chelsea ahead of their return to the UEFA Champions League next season. Under new head coach Enzo Maresca, the Blues finished fourth in the Premier League and lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy, their highest finish and first silverware under the new ownership.
