Pedro Lima’s transfer to Blues is now’verbally approved’.

Pedro Lima joins Chelsea, but will first play for Strasbourg, as Chelsea sees him as a long-term investment owing to his youth and ability.
Lima’s signing reflects Chelsea’s desire to build the club’s future, among major transfers such as Mykhailo Mudryk, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea is still active in the transfer market, with an emphasis on acquiring elite talent such as Michael Olise from Crystal Palace for the 2024/25 season.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, Chelsea has signed sought-after Sport Recife right-back Pedro Lima, although the 2006-born star will instead play for French side Strasbourg next season.

Enzo Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the previous season, will be looking to start his west London tenure on a high note in 2024/25 by fighting for top four status, and a successful summer transfer window will be critical to that.

Todd Boehly’s entrance at Stamford Bridge came before Chelsea spent much on transfers. Mykhailo Mudryk, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Enzo Fernandez have all signed long-term contracts to help build the club’s future, and Lima’s signing follows suit.

What distinguishes Lima is that he is regarded as a future player, with his age and clear talent serving as the motivation for the club’s decision to pay him this summer. Instead of putting him into senior Chelsea action, he will be sent out to play for Strasbourg.

Chelsea’s owners, including Boehly, purchased a minority investment in the French club, which is managed by Arsenal veteran Patrick Vieira, as part of their BlueCo consortium last year, and have housed players such as Angelo and Andrey Santos throughout the last season.

Maresca and his entourage already have Reece James and Malo Gusto in the right-back position, but the former’s poor injury record – which limited him to just 481 minutes of action in 2023/24 – meant that the Blues, according to Romano, have verbally agreed a deal worth €7 million plus €3.5 million in add-ons for his potential successor.

“Pedro Lima will join Chelsea. The teenage right-back from Sport Recife will first travel to Strasbourg, the opposite side of the BlueCo Group. The transaction is orally agreed for €7 million plus €3.5 million in add-ons, which is a club record sale, and the player’s representative will be in London this week to finalize the agreement.”

“Lima was also linked to other clubs in Europe, including some famous clubs in Spain, but he will play for Chelsea in the future after first moving to Strasbourg. This is due in part to Financial Fair Play considerations, thus for the time being, the deal is with Strasbourg, but his future is with Chelsea.