The in-depth details regarding Estevao Willian transfer to Chelsea have been revealed ahead of the signing’s official confirmation.
Estevao Deal Will Cost Chelsea Millions
The Story Behind The Transfer
17-year-old Estevao, who is currently plying his trade for Brazilian side Palmeiras, was linked with several European clubs earlier in the year, but Chelsea, in true “project” style, stole a march on the winger, and on May 18 reportedly reached a verbal agreement to sign the player, shaking hands on a deal to welcome the teenager to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2025, when he will be 18 years of age.
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Fabrizio Romano broke the news of the agreement, posting his infamous “Here We Go!”, claiming that the deal will be worth £34 million with £21 million in add-ons, a record deal for a South American teenager, the winger expected to be part of the first team upon arrival.
Estevao’s Career So Far
2023/24 is only his first year of senior football, but so far, he has made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven and assisting five. His performances have clearly been enough for Chelsea to snatch the youngster from the prying clutches of their elite rivals, but with him being just 17 years of age, it is understandable why many see this as a big risk of a signing despite the level the club believe the attacker can reach.
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Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Romano revealed the final payment structure of the Estevao deal: “The final payment structure for Estevao Willian will be £33.8 million guaranteed, £16.9 million in easy add ons and £4.2 million in difficult add-ons. In total: £54.9 million. He will be a Chelsea player and sign until 2032, the plan is first team.”
Can Estevao Live Up To The Hype?
Hyping up young players is part and parcel of 21st-century football, in no small part thanks to the rise of football discourse on social media. Players coming through at any level being given nicknames such as “The Next Ronaldo”, or in this case “Messinho”, surely doesn’t help young players as they look to stay grounded and make their way into the big wide world of senior football, but many believe Estevao really does have what it takes to be the next big thing in the sport.
🇧🇷Better than Endrick? @Je_Frota’s thoughts on Estevao and why so many in Brazil rate him so highly.
📺 https://t.co/3zgWStkeeR
🎧 https://t.co/05vaRzq9Fn pic.twitter.com/CFBFNLmLlG— Daniel Childs ☕️ (@SonOfChelsea) May 18, 2024
The revelation from Romano that the Brazilian will not be loaned out upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge next season came as a shock to many, with the Blues renowned for shipping players – most of whom are usually a few years older than Estevao – out on loan to gain experience as a first-team player, so this will be the first time in a long time – since Callum Hudson-Odoi was brought into Chelsea’s senior team as a 17-year old in 2018 from the youth academy – that the club will accommodate a youngster into senior football and keep him there from the off, so perhaps the hype around the Brazilian really is worth buying into.