Chelsea Seal £60 Million Deal for Brighton Forward as Deadline Nears for Club World Cup Inclusion

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Brighton worth over £60 million to acquire Joao Pedro, beating Newcastle United to secure the 23-year-old Brazilian’s signature after an initial rejected offer of £58 million.

The player has expressed a preference for a move to Chelsea, particularly after liking Enzo Maresca’s side. Chelsea are currently finalizing a seven-year contract with Pedro.

This transfer continues a recent trend, with Brighton alumni such as Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, and Robert Sanchez making the switch to Stamford Bridge. Former Brighton player Levi Colwill also previously spent time on loan with the Seagulls.

Chelsea must finalize squad changes by July 3 to include Pedro for the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, where they face Palmeiras in their opening match. The winger is heading to the US to join his new teammates, with manager Enzo Maresca valuing his versatility across the front line.

In addition to Pedro, Chelsea has already signed Liam Delap for £30 million and is close to confirming a move for Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for approximately £55 million.

Pedro, who scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton and joined the Seagulls in 2023 for around £30 million, had some disciplinary issues towards the end of the last season following a training ground incident with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke. Despite this, he remains a highly-rated player for his attacking versatility.

Brighton finished the previous season eight points behind Chelsea in the Premier League standings, making Pedro’s departure a significant change for the Seagulls.