New Chelsea signing faces awkward Reece James chat after ‘painful’ moment before £55m transfer

Joao Pedro and Reece James may need to clear the air ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Palmeiras this weekend. The Blues will lock horns with the Brazilian outfit at the Lincoln Financial Field in Pennsylvania on Friday night as they each look progress to the semi-final of the Club World Cup.

Since storming past Benfica in the round of 16, Chelsea have signed Pedro from Brighton in a deal worth £55m. The 23-year-old striker, who’s penned an eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge, trained with his new teammates for the first time on Wednesday morning in Miami.

The west Londoners managed to register Pedro before the tournament’s deadline on Thursday, making him eligible to face Palmeiras. The Brazil international seemed to settle pretty quickly, enjoying chats with Enzo Maresca and Moises Caicedo.

Pedro may need to clear the air with James, though, following their heated clash last year. In May 2024, towards the end of the season before last, the Chelsea captain was shown a red card for kicking out at the former Brighton forward.

As Pedro ran to collect the ball after initially bringing James down, the Blues defender was adjudged to have kicked out. The Brazilian didn’t exactly help his future teammate’s case, clutching his calf while rolling around on the turf.

The Video Assistant Referee quickly intervened, urging Michael Salisbury to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. The on-field referee eventually upgraded the yellow card to a red, and James was given his marching orders.

Chelsea were given a late scare following the England international’s dismissal at the Amex Stadium, with Brighton pulling on back in the dying embers of stoppage time. Ironically, it was Pedro who teed up Danny Welbeck from close range.

Speaking to reporters after the Blues’ 2-1 win, then-Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino described James’ red card as ‘painful’ and ‘disappointing’. The former Chelsea boss said: “It’s difficult to give my opinion because I didn’t have time to see the action.

“Maybe it’s the frustration of him. But, yes, painful. Painful because it was a fantastic night of football and he’s our captain and a really important player. I’m disappointed because now he’s going to miss the next game and maybe a few games in next season.”

Meanwhile, Roberto De Zerbi said: “I’m sorry for the red card of James because I think it was a normal reaction, he said. ‘If you have played football in your life you know a reaction like this can happen.”

Fast forward a year or so, Pedro and James are now teammates. With the Club World Cup up for grabs, the new Chelsea signing wants to help his captain lift another piece of silverware.

Speaking to club media, Pedro said: “Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history. 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.”