Chelsea and Arsenal have carried out plenty of transfers between themselves in recent years.
Arsenal fans have grown annoyed as the likes of Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga follow players such as David Luiz, Willian, Jorginho and Kai Havertz in swapping west London for north London, all while Chelsea continue to win silverware such as the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League.
Chelsea have now announced a truly exciting deal as Estevao Willian officially arrives from Palmeiras, and the move could haunt Arsenal.
Why £51.4m Estevao Willian deal could end up irking Arsenal
The Brazil international is a potential Ballon d’Or winner, and Mikel Arteta wanted him.
UOL believe Arsenal held talks to sign Estevao from Palmeiras back in May 2024 – when the forward was just 17 years of age.
However, it was Chelsea who eventually won the race later in May 2024 – also fending off Barcelona and PSG – paying an initial £29m with bonuses taking the fee to £51.4m in future, according to the Guardian.
The prodigy remained with Palmeiras until he turned 18 – and is now officially part of the Chelsea squad after an extended break, following his involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup with Palmeiras.
Not only did Chelsea beat Arsenal to a genuine wonderkid in Estevao – who has been backed to become a “football legend” – but the Gunners also effectively paid for his arrival by recently signing the unpopular Madueke in a £52m deal.
The England international is five years older than the 18-year-old sensation, so if he lives up to his immense potential and quickly surpasses the level Madueke showed at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will surely feel they got the upper hand over Arsenal.
With all due respect, the new Arsenal No.20 only scored 20 goals in 92 appearances for Chelsea, so Estevao does not have too much to live up to.
The Brazilian could well match that figure in one season if Enzo Maresca gives him the playing time to do so.
Estevao actually scored against Chelsea at the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer in what was his final outing for Palmeiras.
However, the Blues ultimately won by a narrow 2-1 scoreline.
Chelsea even think Estevao can be as good as Lamine Yamal – according to Simon Johnson of The Athletic – so Arsenal could well regret missing out and also funding the deal by signing Madueke.
Estevao Willian expected to replace Noni Madueke directly
Madueke made 33 appearances on the right flank for Chelsea last season, and that is exactly where Maresca plans to use the Franca-born wonderkid.
TBR Football have been told that Estevao is expected to start his Chelsea career on the right flank, although the teenager would prefer to play centrally in a No.10 role.
Wherever Maresca deploys his new £51.4m addition, he is widely expected to do special things.