Chelsea ‘in talks to sign Estevao Willian, 17, from Palmeiras for initial fee of £25m’ with the Blues hopeful of finalising deal for Brazilian youngster dubbed ‘Messinho’

Chelsea have reportedly entered into talks with Palmeiras over Estevao Willian.

The 17-year-old winger is a hugely exciting prospect and Chelsea are confident of completing a deal, as reported by The Athletics.

If the transfer goes through, Willian would join Chelsea in April 2025 after turning 18.

The report claims that Palmeiras would be willing to accept an initial fixed fee of £25 million (€30 million) for Willian, including performance-based add-ons.

Willian, also known as ‘Messinho’ in reference to Lionel Messi, has been capped by Brazil at Under-17 level.

The winger could make the move to Chelsea for an initial fee of £25 million plus additional costs

If Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea strike a deal for Willian, he could join in April 2025

Willian, teammate of Real Madrid-bound Endrick, will see his current contract with Palmeiras run until 2026.

However, given the high level of interest in him, it is expected that the youngster could leave before then. Barcelona have also been linked with a move for Willian.

Willian is usually deployed on the right flank and is a skilled player who joined Palmeiras in 2021 after previously being at Cruzeiro’s academy.

In 2018, when he was just ten years old, Willian became the youngest player to ever sign with Nike, surpassing Rodrygo.

Willian is a skilled player usually deployed on the right wing and has played at senior level

The youngster won a string of trophies at youth level with Palmeiras and has now made fourteen senior appearances.

If Willian leaves, the deal could be similar to one that sees Endrick join Real Madrid when he turns 18 in July.

In December 2022, a deal was agreed in which Endrick would join Real for an initial fee of £30 million (€35 million) plus £21 million (€25 million) in bonuses.