Who is Estevão? The 16-year-old Brazilian linked with a €60m move to Chelsea

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Brazil has long been renowned for producing some of the best and most exciting talent in world football, and in more recent times European clubs are picking them up early. Real Madrid signed Vinicius Junior at 18 for €45 million from Flamengo. They signed Rodrygo for the same fee from Santos at 18, and 17-year-old Endrick will be arriving from Palmeiras for €37.5m next summer. Vitor Roque just completed his €45m move to Barcelona from Atletico Paranense. PSG snapped up São Paulo defender Lucas Beraldo for €20m, and their move for Corinthians' Gabriel Moscardo seems imminent. Whilst Leonardo recently traded Santos for Benfica in a €25m move.

Top European clubs are contesting to get involved in this influx of young Brazilian talent. A strategy that’s already proved to be a wise investment, with Vinicius and Rodrygo now worth €150m and €100m respectively. Chelsea want to get a piece of the action, and are circling around a move for 16-year old talented Palmeiras winger Estevão. Born in 2007, he already has a market value of €10m.

Who is Estevão and what’s he done so far?

Estevão has already made a huge impression in a very short professional career. He made his Palmeiras debut against Cruzeiro on the final day of last season in December as his side won the title, after making a serious impact at youth level. Estevão starred for Brazil at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia last year, scoring three and assisting three in five games, and has been mesmerising in the ‘Copinha’ - an U20 tournament in Brazil. In the 2024 edition of the youth tournament he has four goals and two assists in just five matches.

"'Messinho' shows as much if not more potential than Endrick or Roque"

Transfermarkt area manager in Brazil Marcos Watts tells us more about the teenager: “At just 16, Estevão is already one of the most promising and exciting young players in Brazilian football. As an extremely skilled left-footed winger, Estevão has impressed people to the point of already being called “Messinho” and has already shown great ability to score and find key passes in games for Palmeiras and for Brazil’s U17s. As a new generation of Brazilian talents arise, Estevão can surely be considered one of the key pieces of Brazil’s future squad and shows as much - if not even more potential than Endrick or Vitor Roque.”

Which clubs could rival Chelsea for his signature?

Reports came in last week that Chelsea had sent a club executive over to São Paulo to complete the signing of Estevão, who is rumoured to have a release clause in the region of €60m. The West London clubs appear to be in pole position for the 16 year old's signature, after PSG withdrew from the race this week. However, Estevão would be unable to come to London until July 2025, due to international transfer law stating he couldn't make the move to Europe until aged 18.

Since owner Todd Boehly took the reins as owner at Stamford Bridge, the club have already brought in three Brazilian teenagers in forward Deivid Washington - €16m from Santos winger Ângelo - €15m from Santos, and holding midfielder Andrey Santos - €12.5m from Vasco da Gama. Nevertheless, there is also reported interest in Estevão from Manchester United and Bayern Munich, so there may still be competition for Chelsea to get their hands on Brazil's latest gem.