Does signing Joao Pedro make sense for Chelsea? | OneFootball

Joao Pedro looks set to seal a move worth over £50m from Brighton to Chelsea.

The Brazilian, who joined the Seagulls from Championship side Watford in a £35m deal two years ago, had been a target for Newcastle United, but Chelsea appear to have won the race to sign the forward.

Versatile, young and with an eye for goal, the Brazilian international has all the qualities to become an even better player, but do Chelsea really need him?

We’ve looked at whether signing Pedro makes sense for Chelsea…

Premier League proven

One thing Pedro has as an advantage over other players the Blues have signed, or are looking to sign, is experience in the Premier League. Despite still only being 23-years-old, Pedro has played all but one of his seasons as a professional in England, first at Watford from 2019 to 2023, before having the last two campaigns at Brighton.

During his time in English football, Pedro has scored 54 times, with his familiarity with the division and the country something that will help him settle into his new side much easier.

Chelsea have also made a habit of signing players from Brighton, with the Seagulls’ style of play and culture clearly appealing to those in charge of bringing players in. Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo have all joined the Blues from Brighton, while Levi Colwill spent time on loan at the south coast side too.

Versatility

Often deployed as the main number nine or just in behind, Pedro’s adaptability has been one of his main strengths in the last couple of years. At Watford, he was given license to roam around the pitch off the left-hand side and pick the ball up in attacking areas, as he almost single-handedly dragged the Hornets to a mid-table Championship finish in 2022/23.

At Brighton, his main position was as their central striker, but at times he would drop in behind to accommodate the Seagulls’ other forwards. One question it poses, however, is the fact that Chelsea already have a plethora of attacking talent capable of playing across the forward line, so fitting Pedro into the team at present will not be easy. Pedro’s arrival will likely require more departures, potentially Christopher Nkunku, who has struggled to settle in at Chelsea.

Age on his side

At 23, Pedro is nowhere near his peak, and joins the youngest side in the Premier League. Capped three times by Brazil, Pedro has shown his ability at a young age and will only improve by playing with a higher calibre of player. During his time at Watford, he was always viewed as someone who could reach the very top, and by joining the Chelsea project, that could soon become a reality.

With the likes of Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Noni Madueke, and the soon to arrive Jamie Gittens all 23 or under, Enzo Maresca will have a still raw, but ever improving forward line who have already shown their qualities.

Potential discipline issues a concern

Pedro’s on-pitch discipline has improved the longer he has been in England, as during his time at Watford he consistently picked up needless yellow cards. That has improved through, maturing as he has gotten older, with his rate of yellow cards consistently decreasing. But the Brazilian is still capable of hotheaded moments, however.

He was lucky to escape a clear red card in December last year after he swung an elbow at Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk, but in the reverse fixture, he was not so lucky, being shown a straight red for the exact same action towards Nathan Collins. That looks like it will turn out to be his final match for the Seagulls, as he would miss the end of the season after a training ground altercation with Jan Paul van Hecke. Chelsea have had disciplinary problems of their own, most obviously with Nicolas Jackson’s recent red cards, and it is something Pedro must work on.

Is Pedro worth the money?

It is a very big fee Pedro is costing Chelsea, but given his age, versatility and general ability, it looks like a risk worth taking. He has shown he is more than ready to play for a top side, but if things like his on pitch discipline do not improve, then it could backfire.