'We are really excited about him!' - Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly confirms Andrey Santos will stay with Blues and reveals club's transfer plans

Since his move to Stamford Bridge in January 2023 from Vasco da Gama, Santos’ journey has been anything but linear. Initially loaned back to his former side, the 21-year-old then endured a frustrating stint at Nottingham Forest, where first-team minutes proved elusive. However, a subsequent loan to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, Chelsea's sister club, has seen the young midfielder flourish, reigniting interest in his potential from top clubs across Europe.

Playing under head coach Liam Rosenior, Santos emerged as a crucial figure for Strasbourg, contributing ten goals and three assists in all competitions. His performances caught the attention of European giants like Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, who were both reported to be interested in a permanent move. Despite these rumours, Boehly has now confirmed that Santos will return to Stamford Bridge this summer and be integrated into Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Club World Cup, Boehly revealed that Santos would be part of the squad travelling to the tournament, underlining the club’s belief in his readiness for top-level football.

"We’re going to the Club World Cup so, right now, we’re laser-focused on the Club World Cup," Boehly said. "We have some players that are joining us for the Club World Cup that weren’t on the team. Andrey Santos is coming from Strasbourg. We’re really excited about him and what we think he can add to the squad.

"The challenge that we really have is how many matches these guys are playing. The calendar is really tight, they put in so much effort and energy and the injuries are continuing to go up and up and up. We’re going to have to revisit what the calendar looks like and how much football they can actually play. Obviously, they’re built to play football, they love playing football, so we’re trying to find the balance of what’s the right amount of football."

While Chelsea have been among the biggest spenders in recent windows, Boehly indicated that the upcoming summer may see a shift in approach. Rather than another shopping spree, the club intends to focus on refining its current roster and making smart additions to enhance long-term competitiveness.

"Listen, I think we’ve done most of our investing," he said. "We’re not looking at it as a spend, we’re looking at it as an investment and we’re trying to build the best portfolio of players that can perform at the highest level, for the longest periods of time. I think there’s going to be a lot of investment in this window… just what I’m hearing, what we’re feeling, so there’s going to be lot of well-heeled clubs looking to add to their teams and that’s only good for the Premier League."

Chelsea’s recent 1-0 win over Manchester United has propelled them into fifth place in the Premier League table. With just one match remaining - an away fixture against Nottingham Forest - the Blues are in a commanding position to secure Champions League qualification for next season, thanks to their superior goal difference over rivals Aston Villa.

But the club’s ambitions don’t stop there. Just days after the league finale, Maresca’s side will take on Real Betis in the Conference League final, offering the chance to cap the season with silverware and further validate Boehly’s confidence in the squad's development.