Chelsea are plotting a £47million move for Estevao Willian, with the 17-year-old having gained a reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in world football.
The Blues are reportedly prepared to bid £25.5m with possible add-ons reaching £21m for the winger, who currently plays for Palmeiras.
According to UOL, Chelsea are set to face much competition as they look to secure the signing of Willian.
Nicknamed ‘Messinho’ in reference to Lionel Messi, Willian could now be given the opportunity to test himself in European football.
Mail Sport brings you the lowdown on all you need to know about the youngster.
Chelsea are looking to secure the signing of Estevao Willian from Palmeiras for £47million
Progress at Palmeiras
Willian started out at Cruzeiro’s academy before signing for Palmeiras in 2021.
In 2018, when he was just 10 years old, Willian signed a professional contract with Nike, becoming the youngest Brazilian to do so, overtaking Rodrygo.
During his time at Palmeiras’ academy, Willian helped the club to win a range of trophies, which eventually led to him being given his senior debut in December 2023, when he featured as a substitute against his former club Cruzeiro aged 16 years and eight months.
Willian, who is the fourth youngest player in the club’s history, went on to score his first senior goal in a win against Uruguayan club Liverpool in the Copa Libertadores.
Across all competitions at club level he has made 13 appearances and has scored two goals as well as registering an assist.
He is team-mates with Endrick, the hugely talented Brazil international who will join Real Madrid for £52.5million in July when he turns 18.
On the international stage, Willian has scored three goals in five appearances for Brazil at Under-17 level, with all of those strikes coming at the U17 World Cup last year.
The youngster has broken into the first-team setup at Palmeiras and has caught the eye
Willian is team-mates with Endrick, who will join Real Madrid when he turns 18 in July
The talented Willian has scored three goals in five appearances for Brazil at Under-17 level
Social media popularity and comparisons to Messi
Although he is only 17 years old Willian is already hugely popular, as shown by the fact that he has amassed 548,000 followers on Instagram.
With a big move seemingly on the horizon, his popularity will surely only continue to grow.
Willian is known for being similar in style to Messi due to his dribbling and technical ability. He mainly plays on the right wing.
Joao Paulo Sampaio, the head of Palmeiras’ youth set-up, praised Willian.
Willian has already amassed over 548,000 followers on Instagram despite being just 17
Willian is nicknamed ‘Messinho’, with his playing style similar to that of Lionel Messi
He told FIFA: ‘One thing these kinds of players have is a strong personality, a big ego to say: “I am, I can and I will”. And they do it. For these out-of-this-world talents, things come easy. It’s difficult for your average player, who make up the vast majority.’
Referring to his name, Sampaio said: ‘He prefers Estevao. The Messinho thing was put on hold, but his game is very similar to that of the Argentine.’
What does the future hold?
A host of big clubs have been linked with Willian, so Chelsea will face much competition
Chelsea have already had two offers rejected but are eager to ensure that they can get a deal over the line for the starlet. Barcelona have also been linked with the youngster, as have Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Willian’s current contract at Palmeiras runs until the summer of 2026, but given his rate of progression it seems unlikely that he will remain at the club for the duration of his deal.
A move to major club seems inevitable and it will be intriguing to see just how far Willian can progress.