"He Helped Me Get Here"—Joao Pedro Reveals Key Chelsea Influence Behind £60m Transfer
New Chelsea signing Joao Pedro reveals how chats with David Luiz and Andrey Santos convinced him to join the Blues, calling Stamford Bridge the perfect place to win trophies.
Joao Pedro has lifted the lid on what convinced him to make a big-money move to Chelsea this summer — and it wasn’t just the lure of silverware or Premier League glory.
The 22-year-old Brazilian forward completed his £60million switch from Brighton to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and is already eyeing his debut, which could come as soon as Friday night against Palmeiras in the Club World Cup.
But behind the scenes, Pedro has revealed that two familiar faces played a huge role in guiding him to west London: Chelsea legend David Luiz and current Blues midfielder Andrey Santos.
“I’m close a little bit to David Luiz,” Pedro admitted after signing for the Blues. “I spoke to him, not about Chelsea, but about my career and how I could develop better. He helped me.”
Luiz, who won the Champions League and Premier League with Chelsea, has long been a mentor figure for Pedro. The no-nonsense defender made 248 appearances for the Blues across two spells and remains a respected figure among Brazilian players.
While Luiz provided career advice, it was Santos — Pedro’s close friend — who gave him the inside scoop on life at Chelsea. The 21-year-old midfielder is set to feature heavily for the club next season after a successful loan at Strasbourg and was quick to share good vibes about the team.
“I was talking with Andrey from Instagram,” Pedro revealed. “I asked about the guys, about the club, and he said good things about the team, so it is good to join. When you join one club and you know one of the players it makes it easier for sure.”
Pedro also expressed his pride in joining the long list of Brazilians to represent Chelsea, a club he grew up watching lift trophies on TV.
“I grew up watching the Premier League, and Chelsea was a club that won trophies,” he said. “So, when you join Chelsea, you can only think one thing: to win trophies. Every competition, you have to think, ‘I play for Chelsea and that is my ambition’.”
“Brilliant players in the past, great players now — it’s a big club, and that’s why I chose to join.”
The forward already has 89 Premier League appearances under his belt from his time at Watford and Brighton, and he believes that experience will help him settle in quickly at Cobham.
“To move from my ex-club to Chelsea, it makes it easier because it is the same league, but different players,” he said. “When I start to train with them, it will be good and the league will be more easy because I play already.”
Pedro described himself as a technical player who thrives on both scoring and creating chances, revealing he used to play in midfield as a youngster — a role that shaped his ability to read the game and deliver passes as well as goals.
“I’m very technical. I love to score. When I was young, I played in midfield as well so I can give a pass to my teammates.”
With the guidance of his countrymen and the Premier League experience already in his locker, Chelsea fans will be hoping Pedro can make an immediate impact — starting with a trophy run at the Club World Cup.
