Chelsea are laying the groundwork to make Brazilian midfield sensation Andrey Santos a key figure in their squad under Enzo Maresca for the 2025-26 season. After signing him for £18m from Vasco da Gama in 2023, the club has carefully managed his development through a series of loan spells.
Santos initially returned to Vasco before moving to Nottingham Forest for the 2023-24 season. However, he struggled for game time, making just two appearances in five months. In January 2024, Chelsea recalled him and later sent him to Strasbourg, their sister club, where he flourished in Ligue 1.
His impressive performances convinced Strasbourg to extend his loan for another season in August 2024. Now, Chelsea are reportedly planning to reintegrate him into their squad for the upcoming campaign, seeing him as a crucial part of Maresca’s project.
Liam Rosenior, Strasbourg’s head coach, has been full of praise for Santos, comparing him to Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga. He highlighted the midfielder’s intelligence, composure, and elite-level stats in duels and goal-scoring.
With Chelsea reportedly thrilled about his progress, Santos is set to return to Stamford Bridge in June, where he could finally get his breakthrough in the Premier League. The 20-year-old, who is contracted until 2030, has already earned one senior cap for Brazil and is expected to play a significant role in Chelsea’s future plans.