Joao Pedro Joins Elite Chelsea List After Hitting 20-Goal Mark This Season

On Monday night, Joao Pedro made history by becoming the 11th player in the Premier League era to score 20 goals in a single season. The 24-year-old Brazilian reached the milestone with an amazing bicycle kick in stoppage time against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge, even though the Blues lost 3-1 at home on matchday 35.

Pedro is now on a list of great players that includes Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, and Cole Palmer. What makes the accomplishment even more impressive is that the former Brighton forward scored 15 goals in the Premier League and five more in the Champions League and FA Cup, and none of them came from the penalty spot.

The Brazilian has been the team’s main goalscorer during a rough season. Pedro’s late acrobatic goal ended Chelsea’s Premier League goal drought of more than nine hours, but it didn’t change the fact that Calum McFarlane’s team hasn’t won in six league games, which is their longest streak since 1993.

Barcelona Circle as Chelsea Insist Joao Pedro Is Not for Sale

As expected, Joao Pedro’s amazing first season in West London has drawn considerable attention across Europe. Barcelona are said to have seen him as a possible alternative if they miss out on Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. The La Liga champions recognise Pedro as the perfect player to revamp their attack ahead of the 2026/27 season, especially since Robert Lewandowski’s long-term future is uncertain.

But Chelsea’s management have quickly put an end to any rumours about a sale. Reports have revealed that the Blues have no plans to sell Joao Pedro this summer. BlueCo are counting on the Brazilian player now and in the future. The forward notably signed a long-term deal that will last until June 2033 when he moved from Brighton last summer for £60 million.

Sources say the player isn’t thinking about leaving Chelsea; instead, he’s focused on finishing the season strong and getting ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His market value is said to have risen to as much as €100 million, so any potential buyer will have to splash that cash to get him away from Stamford Bridge.