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Joao Pedro transfer news: Chelsea sign forward from Brighton with Brazil international to join Club World Cup squad.
Premier League giants Chelsea FC have confirmed the signing of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal reportedly worth up to £60 million.
The 23-year-old attacker has penned a seven-year contract with the London club and has already travelled to the United States to join manager Enzo Maresca and his squad ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
According to FIFA regulations, clubs participating in the tournament are permitted to register new players between June 27 and July 3, which means Pedro is eligible to make his debut when Chelsea face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Philadelphia.
“I grew up watching the Premier League, and Chelsea were a club that won trophies. So, when you join Chelsea, you can only think one thing: to win trophies,” Pedro said after the announcement.
“Every competition, you have to think, ‘I play for Chelsea and that is my ambition’.
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Chelsea fended off competition from Newcastle United, who reportedly submitted a £50 million bid that was ultimately turned down.
It is understood Pedro had his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge, prioritising Chelsea over other suitors.
Pedro’s transfer also activates a sell-on clause agreed when Watford sold him to Brighton in 2023 for £35 million.
The Hornets are expected to receive 20% of the profit, benefiting from Brighton’s strategic transfer dealings.
This move continues Chelsea’s recent trend of recruiting top talent from the South Coast club, with Pedro becoming the fourth major player to make the switch from Brighton to West London since 2022.
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His move follows in the footsteps of Marc Cucurella (£63m), Robert Sanchez (£25m), and Moises Caicedo (£115m), bringing Chelsea’s total Brighton-related spending to a staggering £260 million.
Pedro, who netted 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton, is seen by Chelsea as a flexible offensive option.
He is expected to operate either as a central striker or in supporting roles across the front line, offering tactical versatility for Maresca’s evolving squad.
With a chance to lift silverware in just his first month at the club, all eyes will be on Joao Pedro as he begins his journey in blue, starting possibly with a high-stakes Club World Cup debut.
Joao Pedro is a Blue! 💙
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 2, 2025