It’s officially farewell time for the highly-touted Brazilian prodigy Willian Estêvão, who is set to depart Palmeiras after the FIFA Club World Cup and join Chelsea for the upcoming season.
The young winger’s move to Stamford Bridge has been long anticipated, and the final details are now in place.
Estêvão, who only turned 18 in April, has been a standout performer for Palmeiras, showcasing his immense talent, dribbling skills, and goal-scoring ability.
He’s widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Brazil in recent years, earning him the nickname “Messinho” in his homeland.
Chelsea secured a deal for him back in June 2024, reportedly worth an initial £29 million, with add-ons that could see the fee rise to around £55 million.
His agent has confirmed that Estêvão will play the Club World Cup with Palmeiras before making the switch to London.
This means fans will get one last chance to see him in action for his boyhood club on the global stage, and perhaps even face his future employers if Chelsea and Palmeiras are drawn against each other in the tournament.
Estêvão himself has expressed his excitement about the move, calling it a “dream” to join Chelsea and highlighting the club’s strong belief in his potential.
He’s expected to be integrated directly into the first-team squad at Chelsea, bypassing a loan spell, and will look to make an immediate impact in the Premier League.
