Chelsea make €100m Joao Pedro transfer decision
Updated: 1 May 2026 18:08 BST |
5 min read
Chelsea have reportedly told Barcelona they have no interest in selling Joao Pedro this summer, with the Brazil forward valued at €100million.
Pedro has been in fine form in front of goal this season, scoring 19 goals in all competitions after joining the Blues from fellow Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion last summer.
The 24-year-old, who is expected to feature for Brazil at the World Cup next month, is believed to have caught the eye of La Liga giants Barcelona, who are hoping to land a new striker ahead of the 2026-27 season.
With it looking likely that Robert Lewandowski will leave when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, the Blaugrana’s first-choice replacement is Atletico Madrid star Julien Alvarez, according to The Athletic.
However, Barcelona are understood to be tracking Pedro as a cheaper alternative, in the event that they cannot agree a deal for Alvarez, who Champions League semi-finalists Atletico reportedly value at €140m.
But in a new report from ESPN Brazil, Chelsea are believed to have issued a firm hands-off warning to Barcelona, insisting they are not willing to sanction any deal involving Pedro this summer.
The report comes after Barcelona football coordinator Bojan Krkic told Spanish outlet Cadena SER that he would prefer the club to sign Pedro instead of Argentina international Alvarez.
“Joao Pedro is ideal for the Barça system,” Bojan is quoted as saying. “I would bet on Joao Pedro rather than Julian, I like him more. Overall, Julian is still a great player.”
Asked specifically why he prefers Pedro over Alvarez, Bojan added: “He finishes, he plays well, he is very complete. He is similar to Julian but he is more of a goalscorer and a better player. It is not surprising that many European clubs are interested in Joao Pedro.”
Atletico ace Alvarez, who scored a spectacular free-kick against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash this season, has scored 20 goals in all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side this term.
The 26-year-old also scored a penalty in the first leg of Atletico’s Champions League semi-final tie with Arsenal on Wednesday, with the Gunners also believed to be interested in his signature.
While Alvarez will hope to inspire Atletico to victory over Arsenal in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday (5 May), Chelsea attacker Pedro, meanwhile, will also be hoping to end the season strongly.
With just four Premier League games to go, Chelsea are currently eighth and 10 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa in the battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while the west Londoners face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 16 May.
Analysis: Pedro’s excellent 2026 leads to links with Barcelona
While Liam Rosenior’s sorry reign in charge of Chelsea brought few positives, the former Strasbourg manager deserves credit for breathing life into Chelsea forward Pedro.
After Rosenior was appointed as Enzo Maresca’s successor in January, Pedro went on to score 12 of his 19 goals this season under the Englishman, who was sacked earlier this month following a five-game winless run in the league.
Such has been Pedro’s impressive run of goalscoring form that Barcelona are now being linked with making a big-money move for him in the summer, though Chelsea understandably want to keep him at all costs.
Should Pedro sparkle for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil at the World Cup this summer, speculation will only intensify regarding the striker’s long-term future.
Related stories:
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Enzo Fernandez to Man City: A transfer Chelsea can’t afford to accept
Chelsea Transfer News Today: Blues on alert as Barcelona ‘bet’ on Joao Pedro over Julian Alvarez
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