Chelsea’s long-term blueprint under manager Enzo Maresca now includes making Brazilian star Andrey Santos a pivotal part of the squad next season. Signed for around £18m from Vasco da Gama in 2023, Santos has yet to make his debut at Stamford Bridge due to a series of loan moves. Initially, he returned to Brazil before spending the 2023–24 season on loan at Nottingham Forest, where his opportunities were very limited. Recognising his potential, Chelsea recalled Santos in January 2024 and subsequently loaned him to sister club Strasbourg. There, his performances in the French top-flight have been exceptional—so much so that Strasbourg extended his loan in August 2024 to allow him more regular playing time and further development. Football transfers expert Fabrizio Romano now reports that Chelsea are eager to have Santos rejoin the squad for the 2025–26 campaign, anticipating that he will become a key player under Maresca. Praised by Strasbourg’s head coach Liam Rosenior for his maturity and impressive statistics—earning comparisons to veteran Brazilian Dunga—Santos, who has already earned one international cap for Brazil, is seen as a long-term asset for the Blues, with his contract running until 2030.Chelsea’s long-term blueprint under manager Enzo Maresca now includes making Brazilian star Andrey Santos a pivotal part of the squad next season. Signed for around £18m from Vasco da Gama in 2023, Santos has yet to make his debut at Stamford Bridge due to a series of loan moves. Initially, he returned to Brazil before spending the 2023–24 season on loan at Nottingham Forest, where his opportunities were very limited. Recognising his potential, Chelsea recalled Santos in January 2024 and subsequently loaned him to sister club Strasbourg. There, his performances in the French top-flight have been exceptional—so much so that Strasbourg extended his loan in August 2024 to allow him more regular playing time and further development. Football transfers expert Fabrizio Romano now reports that Chelsea are eager to have Santos rejoin the squad for the 2025–26 campaign, anticipating that he will become a key player under Maresca. Praised by Strasbourg’s head coach Liam Rosenior for his maturity and impressive statistics—earning comparisons to veteran Brazilian Dunga—Santos, who has already earned one international cap for Brazil, is seen as a long-term asset for the Blues, with his contract running until 2030.