- Chelsea have announced 17-year-old Estevao Willian as their latest teenage signing
- He will cost Chelsea £28 million and will join from Palmeiras next year
- Chelsea have now spent £249.4m on teenage transfer fees since August 2022
Chelsea officially confirmed the signing of Willian Estevao from Palmeiras for £28 million on Saturday.
Brazilian winger Estevao will join the Blues next year after celebrating his 18th birthday at the end of April.
“Chelsea Football Club has agreed a deal to sign teenage striker Estevao Willian from Palmeiras, with the Brazilian officially joining Chelsea next summer,” said a statement from Stamford Bridge.
‘The 17-year-old has already built a strong reputation in South America as one of the most exciting talents around, thanks to his skilful dribbling and quick pace, which caused defenses plenty of problems during his breakthrough season in senior football.
‘Estevao made ten appearances in the Brazilian Serie A for Palmeiras, scoring two goals and two assists, and also found the net in the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil.’
Teenage forward Willian Estevao will join Chelsea from Brazilian club Palmeiras next summer
Estevao, who is a fast player and likes to run with the ball, will cost Chelsea £28m
The statement added: ‘The exciting forward, who joins compatriots Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel at Stamford Bridge, has also played for his country at youth level.’
As well as joining Chelsea’s roster of Brazilian players, Estevao is now the 13th teenager to be signed by the Blues since Todd Boehly took charge of the club in 2022.
Those teenagers cost a total of £249.4 million in transfer fees, with Romeo Lavia being the most expensive.
Midfielder Lavia cost £58 million when he joined from Southampton in August 2023, but made just one appearance for the Blues last season due to injury problems.
Chelsea have now spent £249.4m on buying teenage players under chairman Todd Boehly
Romeo Lavia cost Chelsea £58m last summer but played just once in the 2023/24 season
Estevao is unlikely to be Chelsea’s last teenage recruit before the start of the 2024/25 season.
Boehly is close to completing a £19million deal for Aston Villa midfielder Omari Kellyman.