Of all the big money that Chelsea have spent this January, the deal for Andrey Santos seems to have been a bargain. The youngster is performing incredibly well for Brazil in the U-20 South American Championships.
He has scored four goals in the tournament as a midfielder, and has been very impressive throughout. His performances have drawn comparison to Jude Bellingham, suggesting that Chelsea might have acquired a similar skillset for a much cheaper price.
Andrey Santos: Chelsea’s under the radar new signing
With the likes of Mykhaylo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix joining Chelsea in January, it can be easy for fans to have overlooked Andrey Santos who is relatively unknown.
However, the 18-year-old could be set for a bright future after he has settled in London. Manchester City and Newcastle United were both keen on signing him, but Chelsea ultimately won the race due to their quickness to put together a deal back in November.
Santos has earned a reputation as a very complete midfielder – he gets into the opposition penalty box, is able to threaten the goal, and is also physically imposing in central areas. He is also able to contribute defensively with a good tackle and interception success rate.
As a result, he could be very well suited for the physical and fast nature of the Premier League. However, for the time being, he is yet to receive a work permit which has prevented him from moving to London.
