Chelsea act after former Newcastle target Joao Pedro caught up in bombshell

Newcastle United narrowly missed out on the signing of Joao Pedro, as Chelsea moved swiftly to secure the talented forward in a high-profile transfer.

While the Magpies had long admired the Brazilian, it was the Blues who ultimately landed his signature, but now they face a fresh challenge: ensuring Pedro is eligible to feature in the Champions League under strict UEFA regulations.

Chelsea’s aggressive summer spending has come under increased scrutiny, especially after UEFA fined the club £27 million for violating both the football earnings rule and squad cost rule earlier in 2024.

As part of the penalty, UEFA imposed a crucial restriction: the London club may not register any new player in their Champions League squad unless they maintain a positive transfer balance.

This means that even after signing players like Pedro, Chelsea must now offset their outgoings with sufficient player sales to stay compliant.

With more than £200 million already spent in this transfer window, Chelsea’s executives are under pressure to manage their roster wisely.

A key move in that direction came with a near-agreement on a £50 million sale of Noni Madueke to Arsenal, which would go a long way toward satisfying UEFA’s requirements.

Beyond that, several other exits are being lined up as Chelsea seeks to trim its overloaded squad and balance its financial commitments.

Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is currently in talks with Bournemouth over a potential switch, while Mathis Amougou is set to join Strasbourg, the French club within the Chelsea ownership group.

Meanwhile, the futures of several other first-team players remain uncertain. Trevoh Chalobah, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson all face questions about their long-term roles, and others including Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, and Armando Broja are reportedly available for transfer if the right offers arrive.

This flurry of transfer activity isn’t just about financial compliance—it also reflects Chelsea’s ongoing commitment to squad restructuring. The club’s willingness to consider selling assets, including parts of the women’s team setup, has already helped it stay in line with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

These strategic decisions have created room to sign players like Joao Pedro without falling foul of governing bodies’ financial frameworks.

Pedro’s arrival has already made an impact. The 22-year-old marked his full debut with a dazzling performance that showcased exactly why Newcastle were so eager to bring him to St James’ Park.

Scoring both goals in a commanding 2-0 win over Fluminense in the Club World Cup semifinal, Pedro wasted no time in justifying his £60 million price tag.

His clinical display did not go unnoticed. Former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, now working as a pundit for DAZN, praised Pedro’s mentality and immediate influence on Chelsea’s attacking unit.

Wilson highlighted how the young Brazilian embraced the pressure of a big transfer by delivering an outstanding performance under the global spotlight.

According to Wilson, scoring on debut is critical for a striker, as it builds trust with new teammates and fans while boosting personal confidence.

Pedro went one better, netting twice and showing the kind of composure and sharpness that Chelsea supporters will be eager to see replicated throughout the campaign. It was, by all accounts, a dream start and a clear warning to Premier League defenders that Pedro has arrived with serious intent.

Although Newcastle may feel disappointed at missing out, their loss has quickly become Chelsea’s gain. Pedro’s dynamism and flair have injected new energy into Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, and if the club can resolve its financial constraints in time, he’ll be primed to make an impact on the European stage as well.

Chelsea’s task now is to ensure they offload enough players before UEFA’s registration deadlines. If they can navigate these challenges, Joao Pedro could emerge as one of the most influential additions of the summer—not just for Chelsea but in the entire Premier League.