Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has admitted he snubbed Newcastle United in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge because he ‘missed London’ during his two years in Brighton.
The Brazilian forward, 23, signed for the Blues in early July for a fee of £60million after netting 10 goals and registering six assists last season for the Seagulls.
And he’s continued his impressive form since joining Enzo Maresca’s side, helping them to Club World Cup glory and scoring two goals in Chelsea’s first three Premier League games.
But before he decided to move up the A23 from Brighton to west London, Pedro could have joined a club a whole lot further north with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United in the hunt for his signature.
One of the many targets they missed out on this summer, the Magpies submitted a bid worth £50m to Brighton in July in what was a firming up of their long-standing interest in the No 9.
Pedro however ultimately chose Chelsea, and he’s now revealed that a return to London was a key factor in his thinking.
Chelsea secured the signing of Joao Pedro in July after paying Brighton a reported £60million
The Brazilian snubbed a potential move to Newcastle in favour of a return to London
The 23-year-old is one of the many targets Eddie Howe and the Magpies missed out on this summer
Indeed, the Brazilian began his journey in English football with Watford back in 2020, joining the north-west London side from Fluminese in Brazil.
He now resides not far from Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey, where he this week told The Evening Standard: ‘When I was in Brighton, I was missing London a little bit.
‘I had a chance to move to another club, but I chose Chelsea because it’s in London, it’s a great club and I knew in my head it was the right move.’
Having joined a much-improved Chelsea side following their Club World Cup victory, Pedro has big ambitions at his new side, including winning the Premier League.
When asked whether Enzo Maresca’s team could win it this season, the 23-year-old responded: ‘It’s too early to say whether we’re going to win it or not, bit if you watch us, you’ll say we have a good chance. I agree.’
The ambitious striker is too dreaming of winning the Golden Boot, and even the Ballon d’Or, during his time with Chelsea.
‘Big clubs from England have bought the top strikers from Europe this summer,’ he added, ‘it will be interesting to compete with them for the Golden Boot.
‘It would be a dream one day to win the Ballon d’Or. I believe in myself, everything is possible. Maybe it can happen.’
Pedro has got his Blues career off to an impressive start, netting two goals in his first three league appearances
His performances have earnt him a call up to the Brazil squad for their fixtures against Chile and Bolivia this week
Indeed, if he’s to scoop the Golden Boot this year he will have to fend off competition from a host of the league’s most talented attackers.
While the free-scoring Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland remain at Liverpool and Manchester City respectively, Viktor Gyokeres has also got his Arsenal career off to a goal-scoring start.
Though still early days, Haaland currently tops the league’s list of scorers this season with three, while Pedro sits in joint-second place on two.
Pedro is next in action late tonight for Brazil, who face Chile in a World Cup Qualifier before travelling to Bolivia for another fixture on Wednesday.
With his national side already qualified for next summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Pedro will no-doubt be eyeing glory across the pond too.
