Estevao Willian, the Brazilian wonderkid set to join Chelsea this summer, could go head-to-head with his future teammates at the FIFA Club World Cup before officially arriving at Stamford Bridge.
The 18-year-old, who recently became eligible to move to Europe, is currently representing Palmeiras in the tournament. Chelsea secured his signature last year in a deal worth £29m upfront, potentially rising to £57m. Estevao’s performances have drawn comparisons to Neymar and expectations are high.
Palmeiras topped Group A and are set to face Botafogo in the last 16. If they win, and Chelsea beat Benfica later the same evening, the two sides will meet in the quarter-finals—putting Estevao in direct competition with his soon-to-be club.
Since he is still registered with Palmeiras, there is nothing preventing him from facing Chelsea before linking up with them next month. His agent, Andre Cury, has confirmed the youngster will join Chelsea for pre-season immediately after the Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are preparing for his arrival alongside other young recruits like Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo. Although the club often sends young signings on loan—as with Andrey Santos at Strasbourg—Estevao is expected to be integrated into Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans for the 2025–26 campaign.
Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has urged patience: “Don’t put pressure on them. Let them grow into the club and Maresca’s system,” he said, while affirming the high expectations tied to Chelsea’s winning culture.
As the Club World Cup heats up, the possibility of Estevao facing his future team adds an intriguing subplot to Chelsea’s knockout run.