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Chelsea reach record breaking €65m agreement with Palmeiras for 17-year-old sensation

Chelsea have reached an agreement in principle with Brazilian Club Palmeiras to buy 17-year-old Estevao Willian for €65m according to reports.

The Blues have been tracking Estevao for some time, and having missed out on his team-mate Endrick to Real Madrid they have been determined to seal a deal for a player they are believed to view as a generational talent.

The teenager is viewed as the next big thing to come out of Brazil, and there is a lot of excitement surrounding him despite his age, with the forward now appearing regularly in the Palmeiras first team.

Chelsea reach agreement for Estevao Willian

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake took over nearly two years ago the club have had a huge shift in their recruitment policy with a real emphasis on signing the best young talent from around the world.

Chelsea have increasingly turned to the South American market to snap up the continents best talent and have already signed Kendry Paez, Angelo Gabriel, Andrey Santos and Deivid Washington, and it appears Estevao will be next to join Chelsea’s South American contingent.

Estevao is closing in on a record breaking move to Chelsea.

Journalist Cesar Luis Merlo has reported Chelsea have reached an agreement for Estevao and the deal will make him the most expensive transfer in Brazilian football history, surpassing that of Endrick to Madrid.

Merlo took to X and said: “Estevão Willian reached an agreement to play for Chelsea, the English club sent its last offer of €65M guaranteed and without objectives, which was accepted by Palmeiras.

“It will be the most expensive sale in the history of America to Europe. it will be added in mid-2025.”

If the deal goes through Estevao won’t be able to join Chelsea until 2025 when he turns 18, and it will be interesting to see what the club’s plan is for him and what the pathway to the first team is.

The new Brazilian season only started recently and Estevao has made six appearances, scoring one goal and has also come up against future Chelsea star Kendry Paez in the Copa Libertadores, the South American version of the Champions League.

Only time will tell if this move proves to be a smart acquisition, or if the Blues have simply taken too big a risk here, but nonetheless it’s very exciting.

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