Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Brighton in a deal reportedly worth £60 million ($79 million), the club confirmed on Wednesday.
Pedro travelled to the United States on Sunday — where Chelsea are currently competing in the Club World Cup — after finalising terms on an eight-year contract.
With the transfer now officially complete following his medical, the 23-year-old is eligible to feature for Enzo Maresca’s squad in their Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia.
FIFA’s registration deadline for Club World Cup knockout-stage players is July 3.
“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” Pedro said. “They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join. When you’re a Chelsea player, you have to think about one thing – winning.”
Pedro joined Brighton from Watford two years ago for £30 million and went on to score 30 goals in 70 appearances. He has also earned three caps for the Brazil national team.
His time at Brighton ended on a sour note, however, as he missed the club’s final two matches of the season following a reported training ground clash with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Pedro becomes Chelsea’s fourth signing from Brighton in recent years, following the arrivals of Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Robert Sanchez.
The Blues, who secured Champions League qualification for next season, have already made several moves in the transfer market, adding striker Liam Delap, midfielder Dario Essugo, and defender Mamadou Sarr to their squad.
Highly rated 18-year-old Estevao Willian is also set to join Chelsea after his Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras.
In addition, Chelsea are close to finalising a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, with a transfer fee of up to €65 million ($76 million) reportedly agreed.
