Estêvão’s Impressive Debut
In an impressive debut, Brazilian teenager Estêvão showcased his skill during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in a preseason match on Friday at Stamford Bridge. The 18-year-old midfielder made an immediate impact, scoring a goal just 18 minutes into his first official appearance for the team. Following a shot from Cole Palmer that struck the crossbar, Estêvão was perfectly positioned to score with a composed left-footed finish, exciting Chelsea fans who have eagerly awaited his arrival since his signing last year.
Transfer Details
The talented player joined Chelsea from Palmeiras last July for an initial fee of €34 million (approximately $40 million), which could rise to around €67 million ($78 million) depending on performance incentives. Although he was acquired in 2024, Estêvão spent the previous season developing at Palmeiras before finally relocating to London and commencing his training with Chelsea earlier this week.
Previous Encounters and Match Highlights
His previous encounter had been against Chelsea in the Club World Cup quarterfinals, where his former team triumphed as they went on to win the tournament. Friday’s match marked Chelsea’s first preseason outing, taking place less than a month after they claimed victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the tournament final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Also making headlines during the game was João Pedro, another recent signing from Brighton, who netted Chelsea’s second goal in the dying minutes with a precise shot into the corner of the net. The match also provided debut opportunities for Chelsea’s other summer recruits, including Liam Delap, Jorrel Hato, and Jamie Gittens. Gittens, who entered as a substitute in the second half, nearly assisted Estêvão in securing a second goal, only for the Brazilian to miss from a promising position.
Looking Ahead
As Chelsea gears up for a condensed preseason, they have one remaining fixture against AC Milan scheduled for Sunday, followed by their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace the following week.
