CHEconfident in 'generational talent' after beating MU and Arsenal to signing

Chelsea resisted spending big on a winger in the January transfer window - and there might be a good reason why.

The Blues quietly beat off competition from a host of Premier League rivals when they secured a £29m plus add-ons deal for Brazilian whizz kid Estêvão Willian last summer. Estêvão, 17, is due to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer after spending another year at Palmeiras who believe they have got a generational talent on their hands.

It may be more about the future rather than immediate results, but you can expect to hear a lot more about Estêvão than when he initially signed almost under the radar. The Premier League big guns - including the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United - all scouted him but Chelsea got the deal done.

And that is perhaps what helped shape Chelsea’s thinking in the winter market as they were interested in United’s Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho but ultimately did not pursue it.

They are also set to be without winger Mykhailo Mudryk who insists he will clear his name despite registering a positive drugs test. They loaned Joao Felix to AC Milan and, by their standards, Chelsea were quiet in the window but it is because they believe in a new wave of young talent coming through.

At the heart of that is Estêvão - who does not even turn 18 until April 24 - who has already won four senior caps for Brazil. In Brazil, many believe Estêvão could end up being even better than Real Madrid superstar Endrick who left Palmeiras for the Spanish giants in 2024 for around twice the price.

Estêvão is left-footed, plays largely on the right for Palmeiras but in his youth career he played inside and also centrally. He is well known for his dribbling in small spaces and for having a very precocious attitude but is mature because he has developed so fast.

Estêvão was regarded as Palmeiras’ best player last year taking his club to second place and he was among the top scorers in the league without being a centre forward. He won awards for Brazil’s Breakthrough Player and Best Striker.

Without him, many in Brazil feel Palmeiras would have finished fifth such was his importance to the team. The biggest drawback is his physicality as he is very skinny and incredibly young to switch to a different culture.

But Estêvão has revealed he spoke to Thiago Silva before making the switch and has exchanged messages with Cole Palmer and Reece James on social media. Chelsea were able to sell him a vision of a club which embraces young players and a manager who wants to give youth a chance.

It remains to be seen whether Estêvão can go straight in from next season but Chelsea are building a squad full of potential. And at the heart of that process is a foray into South America which they believe will bring rich rewards in the long term.