Estevao Willian
Chelsea’s promising young talent, Estevao, has been making waves since his arrival in SW6 after a successful stint at Palmeiras during the 2024/25 season. Under the watchful eye of head coach Enzo Maresca, the 18-year-old Brazilian is adapting well to life in a new country and the demands of Premier League football. Estevao’s performances have already captured the hearts of the Chelsea faithful, who are eager to see more of his direct and skillful play.
Nevin said: “Estevao has been exactly what I hoped for. I think he could be one of the best. It is a lot to ask of a kid who is 18, but he has got everything, everything you need. Next off the Brazilian production line, like Neymar. It’s a good solid start, but I’ll tell you what underlines it. I was at the Chelsea vs Liverpool game just the other week and the ball went out to him and the noise in the stadium is different from every single other player. That is wow, not many can do that. So nice solid start, but he’s a kid that can go wherever he likes. He’s unbelievably good.”
Nevin continued: “Style-wise, Chelsea have got this long list from Gianfranco Zola, Eden Hazard – Juan Mata was much, much loved down there. It goes all the way back to Charlie Cooke. Chelsea have got a whole list of these little creative players that they absolutely love. Estevao will be one of them. If Chelsea treat him right, if they stick by him, if he doesn’t get injured, he will be in that pantheon. There’s a couple of ifs in there, but [he’s] definitely capable. Which one of them is he more like? He’s probably closer to Neymar. He’s not really like them, but creative, small, playing for Chelsea and could be world-class very soon. The boy has got everything, looks like a star. He takes the ball, he’s very brave, understands the game already, runs without the ball a lot – what I don’t see much in modern football. You can see he’s playing with a smile on his face. A lot of these boys nowadays are very uptight because the pressure is immense. But if you’ve got a player that’s smiling, I think yeah, enjoy the game a little bit. So he is definitely going to be one of those. He will bring character and light-heartedness to Chelsea’s attack.”
Estevao’s potential has drawn comparisons to Brazilian superstar Neymar, and his style of play has been likened to Chelsea legends such as Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard. His ability to entertain and excite fans has already been evident, especially during Chelsea’s recent match against Liverpool, where his presence on the ball created a unique atmosphere in the stadium.
Estevao’s international experience with Brazil during the recent break, albeit mostly from the bench, has further honed his skills. He is set to return to the UK and join Chelsea’s training sessions at Cobham, preparing for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest. As he continues to integrate into the squad, Estevao’s development under Maresca’s guidance will be closely watched, with hopes that he will soon become a key figure in Chelsea’s attacking lineup.
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