Young, up-and-coming talents from South America are very popular with top European clubs. Chelsea FC are now continuing this trend by digging deep into their pockets for 17-year-old Estevao Willian
Estevao Willian was prepared to make many compromises at a young age in pursuit of his dream of a professional career. As a nine-year-old boy, the youngster born in Franca, Brazil, left his family behind to move to Belo Horizonte, around 350 kilometers away, and join Cruzeiro’s youth academy.
The dribbling attacker’s technical skills would not go unnoticed for long and eventually helped him to join Palmeiras, Brazil’s record champions, in the summer of 2021.
Another two and a half years passed, during which the then 16-year-old talent was able to draw attention to himself not only in the club’s youth teams, but also in numerous training sessions with the professional team. On December 7, 2023, Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira let the youngster off the leash for the first time in a competitive match – against Cruzeiro (1:1) of all teams.
Blues invest big money in “Messinho “
Just six months after his professional debut, it is now clear that Estevao Willian will turn his back on Palmeiras from at least the 2025/26 season. With four goals and three direct assists in 23 games for the reigning champions, “Messinho”, as the 17-year-old is known in reference to Lionel Messi due to his style of play, has finally won over Chelsea FC.
According to media reports, the Blues will transfer a fixed fee of 34 million euros to Palmeiras, which is set to rise to around 50 million euros due to possible bonus payments.
When Estevao Willian comes of age at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2025, he is unlikely to find it too difficult to settle in to life in London. In Deivid Washington, last year’s Premier League sixth-placed team already signed a talented Brazilian striker last August who is only two years older than “Messinho.”
