Estevao Willian will have his final act as a Palmeiras player at the Club World Cup before making his blockbuster move to Chelsea.
Last year, the Blues saw off interest from almost every elite club in Europe to secure the services of a player regarded as Brazil’s most promising talent since Neymar.
Chelsea paid an £29million which could eventually rise £57million – but it could all be worth every penny.
Having turned 18 in April, Estevao is now permitted to make his move to London this summer. Before that, he will be part of the Palmeiras side competing in the revamped Club World Cup – a competition also featuring his new club.
The competition is underway this weekend with Palmeiras in action against Portuguese giants Porto on Sunday night.
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Chelsea are then up and running on Monday evening, in action against Los Angeles FC.
If both clubs enjoy successful campaigns out in the US, there is a good chance their paths will cross.
Can Estevao Willian and Palmeiras play against Chelsea at Club World Cup?
Palmeiras have been placed in Group A of the competition alongside Al Ahly, Inter Miami and Porto. Chelsea meanwhile find themselves in Group D alongside ES Tunis, Los Angeles FC and Flamengo.
There is a possibility Chelsea and Palmeiras can meet at the quarter-final stage of the Club World Cup.
Should both progress as group winners or runners-up and beat their last 16 opponents, they are possible opponents for each other at the last eight stage.
Those matches in question will take place on Friday 4 July in Philadelphia and Saturday 5 July in Atlanta.
With Estevao registered for the Palmeiras squad, there would be nothing to stop him from lining up against the players he will be playing alongside side as early as next month.
Estevao’s agent Andre Cury said in April: ‘Yes, he’s arriving [at Chelsea] after the Club World Cup. He’s a world-class player. Very good. A guy who’s going to make history here.’
Will Estevao Willian play for Chelsea next season?
New signings Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo are in the Chelsea squad for the Club World Cup and will be joined by Estevao later in the summer when pre-season gets started.
Chelsea routinely send their young stars out on loan, with Estevao’s countryman Andrey Santos enjoying a superb campaign with Strasbourg last season. But the Brazil international is expected to be part of Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Club World Cup Round-by-round prize money breakdown
On top of a participation fee, clubs will receive prize money as follows:
- Group Stages: £1.5m for a win and £800,000 for a draw
- Round of 16: £5.8m
- Quarter-Final: £10.1m
- Semi-Final: £16.2m
- Runners-up: £23.2m
- Winner: £30.0m
Chelsea must not put pressure on Estevao Willian
Estevao will be joined by another prodigious South American talent at Chelsea in Ecuador’s Kendy Paez – although there are suggestions he may be shipped out to Strasbourg shortly after he touches down in London.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel sees huge potential in both players who must be aware of the club’s need to win trophies ‘from the word go’.
‘The important thing is to give them time, we shouldn’t put pressure on them,’ Mikel told Metro.
‘Let them come into the club, bed them into the system and the way Maresca wants to play. There is always pressure at Chelsea, we win trophies. So they have to know that from the word go. But they are young players so you have to find a way to manage it.
‘They will come good. If we can find a way to get the best out of them. If it happens straight away, fantastic, we are all happy. What I have seen from both of them, they are so exciting.’
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