‘Not for sale!’ - Chelsea are set to hand Brazilian forward Joao Pedro a lucrative new contract at Stamford Bridge as they look to fend off interest from top European clubs. The former Brighton & Hove Albion attacker has established himself as a vital figure in the Blues’ attack after an outstanding first campaign in West London.

Chelsea move to secure Joao Pedro’s future

According to The Athletic, Chelsea are preparing to reward Pedro with an improved deal after his superb debut season at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion only last summer in a transfer worth more than £50 million, initially putting pen to paper on a huge seven-year contract that runs until 2032.

The move to offer better terms comes amid reports that a number of Europe’s biggest clubs have been keeping a close watch on the forward’s development. Barcelona were said to hold serious interest in the Brazil international earlier this summer, but Chelsea have remained unwavering in their position that he is not available for sale under any circumstances.

A sensational debut campaign

Pedro’s influence since making the switch from the South Coast to London has been hugely significant for a Chelsea side that had previously lacked a reliable source of goals. The forward scored 23 times and registered nine assists in 53 appearances across all competitions last season, finishing comfortably as the club’s leading scorer.

Speaking about his swift progress and how he has settled into life at one of the biggest clubs in world football, the striker has made no secret of his happiness in his current surroundings. In a club interview in April, he said: ‘I’m very happy. I think it’s (been) one of the best seasons of my life. I think the expectations from me were high, so I try to keep my mentality always forward to help my team-mates.’

International ambitions and pre-season form

In spite of his domestic success, the forward endured frustration during the summer on the international front. Although he has won eight caps for Brazil, he was a notable omission from Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. That setback, though, appeared to sharpen his motivation during the latest pre-season tour.

Looking ahead, Pedro is keen to carry that momentum into the new era under manager Xabi Alonso. He has already offered an early glimpse of his intent by scoring a rapid nine-minute hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-4 pre-season win over Western Sydney Wanderers. Determined to help lift the Blues after a disappointing 10th-place finish last season that left them out of European football, the Brazilian forward is aiming to spearhead the attack and become central to Alonso’s rebuilding project.

Building around a talisman

Chelsea’s recruitment strategy continues to take shape, with the club having already completed notable signings including Morgan Rogers, Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha. The Blues are now trying to reunite Pedro with some familiar faces in a bid to further strengthen their attacking threat, with active talks ongoing over a move for his former Brighton team-mate Danny Welbeck — a transfer designed to add both depth and an already proven connection for the Brazilian.