Chelsea Unveil Estêvão Willian One Year After Sealing Deal with Palmeiras

Chelsea FC has formally introduced Estêvão Willian as their newest signing, finalizing a transfer that was initially agreed with Palmeiras in June 2024. The Brazilian forward officially joined Stamford Bridge following his 18th birthday and the conclusion of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Chelsea completed the agreement over a year ago, reportedly paying around £29 million, with potential add-ons raising the total to approximately £52–55 million. Although the deal was secured early, Estêvão remained at Palmeiras for another season, allowing him to develop further and participate in the Club World Cup with his former team.

Estêvão made his Palmeiras debut in late 2023 and became a standout performer during the 2024–25 season, recording 12 goals and 5 assists in 37 appearances. His pace, flair, and technical ability drew comparisons to Lionel Messi and Neymar, and he was honoured with several individual awards, including ESPN Brazil’s Ballon d’Or for the best player in the Brazilian league.

In his final match for Palmeiras—a Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Chelsea—Estêvão scored a remarkable equaliser before his new club advanced due to a late own goal. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca praised the teenager’s performance, calling him a “huge talent,” and vowed to support his adaptation to European football. Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira also encouraged Chelsea to support Estêvão’s growth on and off the pitch.

After arriving at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground, Estêvão expressed his excitement: “It feels very rewarding to represent Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I am very happy and I hope to help the team in the best way possible. I had almost a year and a half to wait until I arrived here… I have worked hard and have done my best to get here in the best shape possible.”

Estêvão joins a wave of young attacking signings at Chelsea, including Liam Delap, João Pedro, and Jamie Gittens, as part of the club’s long-term investment in future stars. The total spending on young forwards this summer exceeds £190 million. Estêvão is expected to compete for a place on the right wing alongside Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer.

Former Chelsea winger Willian also praised the signing, saying Estêvão has the potential to help the club win titles for years to come and likening his playing style to Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal.

Now integrated into Chelsea’s pre-season training, Estêvão is preparing for the club’s upcoming fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan before the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on August 17. His long-anticipated arrival marks a key moment in Chelsea’s youth-focused rebuild under manager Enzo Maresca and the club’s ownership group.