Chelsea’s under-the-radar signing of Andrey Santos could turn out to be a bargain
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Chelsea’s under-the-radar signing of Andrey Santos could be a gem with the Brazilian midfielder so far starring in the Under 20 Championship and being compared to Jude Bellingham.
- Andrey Santos arrived at Chelsea on an £18m summer deal from Brazil
- The 18-year-old midfielder could become a bargain signing
- He is tall, athletic and has been labeled a ‘freak’ when on the field.
Andrey Santos, the second signing of Chelsea’s incessant January splurge, has conquered the South American Under 20 Championship.
The 18-year-old midfielder scored against Ecuador on Tuesday as his new club were setting a British transfer record for signing Enzo Fernandez.
It was his fourth goal in Colombia, where his performances are making the £18 million paid to Vasco de Gama look like a bargain.
He is tall and athletic and covers the field, getting into the penalty area and creating chances in a style similar to Jude Bellingham.
“Physically, he’s a monster,” Juninho Pernambucano, the former Brazil midfielder, said on the Resenha Loading podcast. ‘Without the ball, his participation in the game is total. He doesn’t stop and is technically way above the others.
The Brazilian Sub 20 midfielder Andrey Santos starred in the South American with the nation
The 18-year-old’s arrival at Chelsea went under the radar amid a flurry of transfers in January.
‘He’s going to be much better than me. He is a much more complete player. At 18, he wasn’t playing half as much as he does.’
Chelsea beat Manchester City and Newcastle in the deal. But Santos is not eligible for a work permit and must appeal for a waiver.
Santos had drawn the attention of numerous clubs but decided to join Chelsea in January.
Badiashile is a tall, athletic combative midfielder with high expectations at Stamford Bridge.