Chelsea Bolster Attack with Record-Breaking Neto Signing
Chelsea have made a significant statement of intent by securing the services of Portuguese winger Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blues shelled out a club-record fee of €60 million (£51.4m) plus add-ons for the 24-year-old, marking their ninth major signing of a busy summer transfer window under new manager Enzo Maresca.
The winger spent five seasons at Wolves following his arrival from Braga in 2019, and the 2023-24 season was his most productive campaign to date, with nine assists in 20 Premier League appearances.
However, two hamstring injuries limited him to just 1,518 minutes in the competition, and he has not started more than 20 league games in a single season since the 2020–21 season.
Pedro Neto will be hoping to stay fit this campaign as Chelsea set their sights on UEFA Champions League qualification after finishing a disappointing sixth under Mauricio Pochettino last term.
Pedro Neto’s arrival was confirmed at half-time during Chelsea’s final pre-season game against Inter on Sunday, with the 24-year-old signing a seven-year contract before telling the club’s website: “I feel really grateful to have joined this club.
“I’ve worked really hard in my career to be here and I’m looking forward to getting on the pitch in this jersey.”
Neto could make his Chelsea debut next Sunday against Premier League champions Manchester City in the first game of the Premier League season before returning to Molineux a week later for a quick meeting with Wolves.
Neto’s arrival is the most expensive sanctioned by Todd Boehly’s regime this off-season, bringing Chelsea’s total spending to an estimated £161m.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jorgensen, Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo also joined ahead of the 2024–25 season, with Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson moved on for substantial fees.
