at 
Chelsea’s £60m signing Joao Pedro says advice from Andrey Santos helped seal his switch from Brighton — despite Santos never featuring at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s latest big-money arrival, Joao Pedro, has revealed that fellow Brazilian Andrey Santos played a key role in convincing him to join the Blues.
The 23-year-old forward was officially unveiled by the club on Wednesday, becoming their latest addition in a summer that has already topped £200 million in spending. He follows deals for Liam Delap, Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez.
Pedro arrives with a strong Premier League track record, having scored 30 goals across two seasons with Brighton after a previous stint at Watford.
Advice from a Loaned-Out Teammate
Though Santos has yet to make a Premier League appearance for Chelsea — his only minutes coming at the Club World Cup — his recommendation still carried weight.
“I was talking with Andrey on Instagram,” Pedro said. “I asked about the guys, about the club, and he said good things about the team, so it’s good to join.”
Since joining Chelsea in January 2023, Santos has spent time on loan at Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest, and Strasbourg. He finally made his Chelsea debut in a 22-minute cameo against Esperance Tunis in the Club World Cup.
Pedro also sought general advice from former Brazil and Chelsea defender David Luiz, though not specifically about Stamford Bridge.
Ready for Club World Cup Quarter-Final
Pedro is now eligible to feature in Chelsea’s Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras after signing an eight-year deal. He joins a growing list of players who’ve made the move from Brighton to Chelsea, following Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez, and Marc Cucurella.
Speaking after the announcement, Pedro said: “Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history. They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now. When you’re a Chelsea player, you must think one thing — win.”
The club confirmed the signing with a video of Pedro juggling a ball on a beach to Brazilian jazz, ending with the words: “Welcome to Chelsea, Joao Pedro.”
Over 70 appearances for Brighton, Pedro registered 30 goals and 10 assists — stats that helped put him firmly on Chelsea’s radar.
