Estevao Willian plans ‘confirmed’ after Chelsea receive exit approaches
Chelsea’s plans for highly-rated winger Estevao Willian have emerged after he officially joined the club from Palmeiras earlier this summer.
Chelsea’s recent relentless spending has not slowed down any in recent months, with Champions League football to look forward to at Stamford Bridge next season after their fourth-placed finish in the 2024/25 Premier League.
Estevao actually signed for the Stamford Bridge outfit in June 2024, with the deal set-up for him to stay at Palmeiras then join his new club this summer.
Chelsea allowed the 18-year-old to play in the Club World Cup for the Brazilian side prior to his official switch, and Estevao shone with a goal against the Blues in the quarter-finals before they eventually went on to win the newly-revamped competition last month.
Despite the deal already being completed, Estevao only officially completed his Palmeiras goodbyes earlier this week before Chelsea announced his arrival on X on Tuesday (5 August), and new revelations have now emerged over what the club plans to do with him in 2025/26.
Chelsea to keep Estevao despite loan interest
There had been question marks over where Estevao was set to play his football in the upcoming campaign after fellow South American youngster Kendry Paez was recently sent out on loan to sister club Strasbourg.
However, the Daily Mail (6 August) have revealed that the 18-year-old will be staying within Enzo Maresca’s first team for 2025/26, with insiders at the club “confirmed” that plan.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 83 | 27 | 15 |
Their report states that the West London side have received season-long loan enquiries about Estevao this summer, but it is believed that he can contribute in the senior side this campaign and so will be remaining at Chelsea.
Estevao may struggle to make an impact at Chelsea
Football Insider verdict
It can be tough for any young footballer moving to a foreign country for the first time as a teenager, but not least to Chelsea, where competition for places in attack is seriously strong and Estevao faces an uphill battle to get minutes in the coming campaign.
There is no doubting his current ability and potential to become a world-class talent, as he already has five Brazil caps at just 18-years-old, but whether he will be able to instantly transfer his skills over to English football remains unclear.
Maresca has already delved into the transfer market to sign left-winger Gittens this summer, while fellow new capture Joao Pedro can also play out wide, and the likes of Pedro Neto and Tyrique George are already on the books.
The Blues are stepping up their efforts to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Man United too [The Guardian], and so if he and heavily-linked playmaker Xavi Simons also arrive, then Estevao could find it hard to get a look in.
Not having a pre-season with his new teammates certainly won’t have helped, but he now needs to use the next few weeks getting up to speed with the intensity of Chelsea’s game, and try to force himself into Maresca’s plans for the Premier League and Champions League.