Chelsea fans will get their first chance to watch their new wonderkid at the Fifa Club World Cup… but he will not be playing for their team.
Brazil winger Estevao Willian will join the Blues from Palmeiras this summer in a £29m deal that was agreed in May 2024.
But the Sao Paolo club included a clause that meant he would play for them in the Club World Cup, now under way in the United States, before joining Chelsea.
The teams are in different groups but could meet in the quarter-finals.
“He’s got a special talent,” said new Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti after giving the 18-year-old a first international start against Ecuador.
“He’s got character, he’s a good person, he’s humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful.
“He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team.”
Former Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian told ESPN Brasil: , external”He has great potential like [Barcelona and Spain winger] Lamine Yamal, they have a similar style.
“I hope he can be very successful in England playing for Chelsea, that he can score a lot of goals in the Chelsea jersey and will help them to win titles.”
So how has Estevao – who has five Brazil caps and has scored 11 goals in 32 games this season – reached this stage?