download All Football App

Chelsea’s £60m star Joao Pedro shocks fans with best teammate choice

  /  autty

Joao Pedro has stunned fans with a surprise answer during a social media video confirming his blockbuster £60million move to Chelsea on Wednesday.

The Brazil forward, 23, completed his switch from Brighton to Stamford Bridge to take the Blues' summer transfer spend in excess of £200m, as Chelsea continue to bolster Enzo Maresca's squad ahead of their Champions League return next campaign.

A versatile forward adept at both leading the line and playing as a shadow striker, Pedro arrives at Chelsea with Brazilian flair and Premier League pedigree, having formerly starred for Fluminense ahead of his move to Watford in 2020 and later Brighton in 2023.

It therefore came as a shock to several fans on Wednesday when Pedro revealed that the best player he has ever played with is English veteran James Milner, who joined the Seagulls at the age of 37 in 2023.

In the video shared by Chelsea on their social media channels, the £60m man shared that his football idol growing up was Brazilian icon Neymar and also gave a shout-out to Cristiano Ronaldo by admitting he is the best player he has ever played against.

While Milner, 39, is undoubtedly a Premier League legend with a rich collection of honours, including two top flight titles and a Champions League trophy he earned with former side Liverpool, fans were surprised to see him held in such high regard by Pedro.

One fan admitted he loved the answer in a post on social media. He said: 'They asked Joao Pedro whose the best player he's ever played with and he just said Milner. I rate that.'

Milner, who is hunting down Gareth Barry's record for the most appearances ever in the Premier League and could break it next season after signing an extension with Brighton, has established a reputation for being hard-working and industrious rather than exciting and stylish.

The consistency he has shown over his two decades in the Premier League has been an asset to clubs he has played for, including Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool and most recently Brighton.

The veteran has also been endearingly labelled 'Boring James Milner' by parody fan accounts on social media, due to his approach to life away from football.

In lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, Milner shared that he was 'rationing teabags for the week' in a humorous video on social media.

Milner also made fans laugh by revealing he would celebrate Liverpool's incredible Champions League triumph in 2019 by drinking 'lime and lemonade', while the rest of his team-mates enjoyed a boozy party.

Pedro flew from Brazil to the United States on Sunday night to meet his new team-mates and hold his medical ahead of official signing.

The Blues announced the signing with a video of the former Brighton forward doing keepy-ups on a beach against some Brazilian jazz music, with the words: 'Welcome to Chelsea, Joao Pedro.'

'Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,' said Pedro of his new club.

'They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing - win.'

Pedro was one of Brighton's brightest stars in the last two seasons after joining the Seagulls from Watford back in 2023.

In that period he managed 30 goals and 10 assists in just 70 appearances, picking up admiring glances from Chelsea among others for his impressive displays.

He now joins the likes of Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella in joining from the Seagulls in recent years.