It’s been a long time coming but Estevao Willian is finally a Chelsea player. The 18-year-old’s arrival was announced this week, with the teenager joining from Brazilian side Palmeiras.
The Blues agreed a deal for the talented teenager last summer and beat off the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona for his signature. Capable of playing across the frontline, Estevao arrives with huge potential and is expected to be part of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the 2025/26 season.
“You can see that he is a huge talent,” Maresca said of Estevao last month after the teenager scored against Chelsea in the Club World Cup. “You can see that he is a fantastic player. And the only thing for me is when you come from South America or in general from the other part of the world, Europe, you need to adapt. So, we’re going to help him adapt.
“First of all, to be happy, to continue to enjoy football. And we don’t have any doubt because he’s so good that he’s going to be a very important player for Chelsea.”
Estevao visited Cobham on Monday and trained with his teammates for the first time, with most of the squad also returning that same day following the club’s participation in the Club World Cup. The Blues will play pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in the coming days before the Premier League campaign kicks off against Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17.
There is no time to waste for Estevao and it’s possible supporters see the Brazilian in action for the first time in the two games at Stamford Bridge this week. Ahead of his possible debut, Estevao conducted his first interview as a Chelsea player. It lasted 15 minutes and he spoke in his native Portuguese throughout as he continues to take English lessons in his spare time. Below is a summary of what the teenager said in his first interview, as per the official Chelsea website.
What are you like as a young man?
“I am a child of God, a calm boy. In my free time, I love playing video games and I like to spend time with my family as well.”
Do you have a favourite English word?
“Yes. It is ‘I am happy’. I am very happy.”
What motivated you to become a footballer?
“I think my biggest motivation is to give pride to my family. Not titles, not achievements, but for my family, because I know how much people have worked when we struggled to get where we wanted to go, where our dream was. So, it was more for them that I persevered during my childhood and I persevere to this day.
“My inspiration is my father, my dad. He was always with me, and he is with me now [in England]. We always trained together and had that dream of playing, of getting into a professional team, of playing in Europe. I have come here to England with my family. They are everything to me. For them to be here means everything to me.”
What are your thoughts on London?
“It is incredible, spectacular, and I think there’s a lot to visit, a lot to learn about the city, but for now I’m loving it.”
How does it feel to be a Chelsea player?
“It was a dream for me and my family [to play for a big European club] and I can realise it now.”
What made you choose Chelsea?
“Their plans, the structure and the club. Everything. But mainly the plans and the project the club has is what interested me and my family, and I think it was the best decision we could have made.”
Do you have a favourite Chelsea player?
“Eden Hazard is the one that I watched the most at Chelsea. He’s ace.”
There’s been many great Brazilian players who have played for the club…
“It’s a pleasure to be here where so many Brazilians made history. I hope to follow those who wrote a beautiful story here at Chelsea just like they did.”
Have you spoken to any of them?
“After I had signed for Chelsea and in the final game of 2024, I played against Thiago Silva. He came and talked to me. He said I was going to love the club, which has an incredible structure and is an incredible club. And now [I am here], I can see how amazing this club is.”
It is the first time you have lived and played outside football. How are you feeling?
“I am very, very excited. It is a new experience in my life, a new stage. I am looking forward to it and hope that it will go as well as possible.”
What are your goals at Chelsea?
“I want to win all the titles possible: the Premier League and the Champions League as well. And personally, to be the best in the world and keep working hard so that these dreams come true.”
