What will Pedro Neto add to Chelsea? Enzo Maresca outlines his expectations for £54m signing ahead of Premier League opener

The Blues continue to bolster their ranks ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, with the club’s Todd Boehly-led board making more funds available in a frenzied recruitment drive. Portugal international Neto should find it easy to adjust to new surroundings as he already boasts Premier League experience from his time at Wolves.

Chelsea are hoping to see the 24-year-old hit the ground running, with Maresca excited about the versatility that Neto brings to his attacking unit. The boss at Stamford Bridge has said of acquiring another winger: “I’m very excited, he can offer many things. He can play on the right side, he can play on the left side, he’s very good one-on-one. It is one more option we have because there will be many, many games in the season, so we need a big squad.”

Neto is the 10th signing of a busy summer at Chelsea, with Maresca freshening up the squad that he inherited from predecessor Mauricio Pochettino. Pre-season has delivered a mixed bag of results, with no decisions made as yet regarding a strongest starting XI. Maresca added on the back of a 1-1 draw with Italian giants Inter: “I don’t know my team yet. Pre-season has been very tough, intense, many games going from one city to another city. Now finally we start a normal week. Tomorrow we are off and then we start to prepare the game.”

Chelsea suffered defeats to Celtic, Manchester City and Real Madrid while taking in a tour of the United States. They will be facing the reigning Premier League champions again on Sunday, with that domestic season opener taking place in west London.