Chelsea have wasted no time pressing ahead with their transfer business this summer.
The club has already brought in Liam Delap from Ipswich Town and agreed to a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.
According to Fabrizio Romano, South West London club now have struck a deal with Brighton for Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, with the fee rising beyond £50m [$68m] and personal terms already agreed. The 23-year-old will undergo medical tests on Tuesday (July 1).
🚨💙 BREAKING: João Pedro to Chelsea, here we go! Agreement done club to club for fee in excess of £50m.
João will travel on Tuesday for medical tests and contract signing, ready for FIFA Club World Cup. pic.twitter.com/9jRLnKvlpF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2025
Reportedly, he will sign a long-term contract until 2032 and is expected to join Chelsea’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Pedro is not a typical explosive wide forward like Mohammed Kudus or Hugo Ekitike who have also been tracked by the club but his strengths lie in how comfortably he drops into deeper areas where he links up play, reads gaps, and finds passing options.
The Ribeirao Preto native has also shown a good work ethic off the ball and earned three caps for Brazil since making his international debut in November 2023.
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Nicolas Jackson’s future uncertain
However, Pedro’s arrival throws fresh doubt on the future of Nicolas Jackson, who joined from Villarreal in 2023 in a £32m [$43m]
While the Senegalese have since scored 30 goals in 80 appearances across competitions, the numbers mask a pattern of inconsistency that has frustrated supporters and staff alike.
According to journalist Duncan Castles, speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Arsenal are now watching Jackson closely and may make a move if they fail to land top targets like Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres.
With Mikel Arteta looking to add a striker before the window closes and Chelsea increasingly open to negotiations, especially after committing £30m [$41m] to bring in Delap, who hit 12 goals in the league last season despite Ipswich’s relegation.
It now appears that while Pedro is coming in as a player Chelsea have been targeting for his technical fit and ability to operate across the front line, Jackson’s position is slipping from certain to surplus.
And with Arsenal hovering and Chelsea continuing to shift pieces on the board, another forward departure may not be far behind.
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