The Blues have finalized a deal for the Brazilian Brighton striker ahead of their quarter-final against Palmeiras.
Chelsea have agreed to sign forward Joao Pedro from Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion for a reputed £55 million.
In recent years, the Blues have made regular acquisitions from Brighton, and Pedro’s addition appears to have been secured despite tough opposition from fellow Champions League qualifiers Newcastle United.
Pedro, a 23-year-old Brazilian striker, scored 19 Premier League goals for the Seagulls over two seasons. He moved to the south coast club from Watford in 2023.
Pedro, who has spent nearly a decade on the books of Rio de Janeiro giants Fluminense, appears set to formally join Chelsea in time to face Brazilian opponents in the quarter-finals of Gianni Infantino’s Club World Cup in Philadelphia on Friday.
Players that register by Thursday, July 3 will be able to join their new colleagues in the Club World Cup and participate even though the competition has passed the halfway point.
That being the case, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca should have Pedro available versus Palmeiras by the Delaware banks.
Liam Delap has started up front in Chelsea’s previous three Club World Cup matches, scoring once and assisting once since joining the West London club from Ipswich Town, so Pedro will likely be eased into the team regardless of tournament regulations.
Jamie Gittens, on the other hand, is set to undergo a medical before joining Chelsea for a comparable price.
Gittens, who played for Chelsea and Manchester City as a kid before making his senior debut for Borussia Dortmund in 2022, is set to return to Stamford Bridge but will be unable to represent the Blues in the Club World Cup.
The Berkshire-born winger cannot join Chelsea’s squad in the competition, even if a deal is reached before Thursday, because he is already with Dortmund and is cup-tied under FIFA tournament regulations.
He came off the bench once in the group stage as Dortmund won Group F, making a late cameo against Pedro’s former club Fluminense, and was already unavailable for another club due to his inclusion on Niko Kovac’s final Club World Cup squad list.
If all goes as planned, Pedro and Gittens will be ready when Chelsea host Crystal Palace on the first Sunday of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
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