Chelsea have secured a deal with Palmeiras to sign 17-year-old winger Estêvão Willian, sources have told ESPN. The agreement is reportedly worth an initial €34 million (£29 million), with performance-related add-ons potentially bringing the total to around €67 million (£56 million). The young Brazilian talent is highly regarded but will not join Chelsea until he turns 18 in 2025.
Chelsea’s new owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have focused on acquiring young talent since their takeover, investing over £1 billion in the past two years. This strategy has seen Chelsea sign several promising players from South America, including Andrey Santos and Kendry Páez last year.
Chelsea scouts recently watched Willian play against Independiente del Valle, and the club swiftly moved to finalize the deal. Palmeiras initially rejected a proposal worth £49 million including add-ons, but Chelsea’s improved offer met the Brazilian club’s valuation.
In other news, Chelsea are set to receive a bonus of around £5 million from Eden Hazard’s transfer to Real Madrid in 2019, despite his retirement from football last October.
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