Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal reportedly worth £60 million ($79 million), the club confirmed on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old striker has already joined Chelsea’s squad in the United States, where the Blues are preparing for their FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Palmeiras in Philadelphia.
Pedro agreed to an eight-year contract and passed his medical earlier this week. With FIFA allowing clubs involved in the Club World Cup knockout stages to register new players until July 3, he is eligible to feature in the crucial tie.
“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” Pedro said in his first comments as a Chelsea player. “They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join. When you are a Chelsea player, you must think one thing – win.”
Pedro joined Brighton from Watford two years ago for £30 million and scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for the Seagulls. He has been capped three times by Brazil. However, he missed Brighton’s final two games of last season following a training ground incident involving teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
His arrival marks Chelsea’s fourth raid on Brighton in recent years, following the signings of Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Robert Sanchez.
The Blues, under new manager Enzo Maresca, have also added striker Liam Delap, midfielder Dario Essugo, and defender Mamadou Sarr this summer. Brazilian teenage sensation Estevao Willian is expected to join after his Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are also close to sealing a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s 20-year-old winger Jamie Gittens, in a move reportedly worth up to €65 million ($76 million).
