Chelsea signs Pedro Neto to $68.8 million deal: Here’s what this means for Enzo Maresca’s Blues

Chelsea have completed the signing of Pedro Neto Wolverhampton Wanderers have completed a deal worth up to $68.8 million. The Portuguese winger was unveiled at half-time of the friendly against Inter and has signed a seven-year contract.

The Blues stole a march on Tottenham on Friday morning, agreeing a deal worth $65.6 million guaranteed with another $3.3 million in potential add-ons. Chelsea had seen two offers rejected earlier in the window, one a player-plus-cash deal also offered by Tottenham, according to CBS Sports sources.

Wolves ultimately concluded that the guaranteed fee eclipsed the club record return they received Manchester city for Matheus Nunes 12 months ago, was too good to turn down. Neto provided nine assists in just 20 appearances for Gary O’Neill’s side last season, with the injury problems that have hampered him throughout his early career re-emerging.

In total, Neto has suffered seven separate injuries that have forced him to miss matches since joining Wolves from Braga in 2019. Most notable was a serious knee problem that sidelined him from April 2021 until the end of February 2022. year-old was sidelined for about two months due to hamstring injuries. Only in the 2020/21 season did he start more than half of the Wolves’ league matches.

“The deal works for us and for Pedro, but certainly doesn’t make it any easier,” said Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs. “For the club it’s the right deal at the right time. It’s difficult when it’s someone who everyone has so much affinity with as a person to see it as a business, but football is a business and it was the right timing and the right timing.” right deal, so from that perspective the football club is happy.”

Neto becomes Chelsea’s tenth major signing in what has usually been an active spell at Stamford Bridge, with Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion expected to arrive soon, while, in a separate deal, Conor Gallagher heads in the opposite direction. In total, they spent around $230 million on strengthening Enzo Maresca’s side, while sales are estimated to be worth over $110 million.

“I am very grateful to have joined this club,” said Neto. “I have worked very hard in my career to be here and I am looking forward to being on the field with this shirt.”

Chelsea’s latest signing offers Maresca an option on either flank, although it’s fair to say there were plenty of him available before Neto’s arrival. Cole PalmerNoni Madueke, Christoph Nkunku, Mkyhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling are the senior players tied to long-term contracts and who can fill these roles alongside youngsters such as Angelo Gabriel.