VIDEO: Estevao reveals Chelsea shirt number as exciting Brazilian wonderkid gears up for potential Blues debut in pre-season friendly

A Premier League transfer for the South American youngster was announced in June 2024. He has had to wait over a year before completing a switch to Stamford Bridge, passing his 18th birthday and gracing the FIFA Club World Cup along the way.

Estevao, who has been dubbed Messinho (Little Messi) in his homeland, is finally a Blues player and is looking forward to opening an exciting new chapter in his career. His new squad number has been confirmed.

The No.41 at Chelsea has not been filled since 2018-19, when Ola Aina graced that jersey. Dominic Solanke, who is now on the books at Tottenham, wore it prior to that - with Estevao sticking with the number he wore with distinction after bursting onto the scene at Palmeiras.

Estevao has told Chelsea’s official website of arriving in English football: “I am very happy, it feels very rewarding to represent Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I am very happy and I hope to help the team in the best way possible.

“I had almost a year-and-a-half to wait until I arrived here. But it has been a year and a half that I have worked hard and have done my best to get here in the best shape possible. I am very, very excited. It is a new experience in my life, a new stage. I am looking forward to it and hope that it will go as well as possible.”

As he now forms part of Enzo Maresca’s plans, Estevao could get his first minutes for Chelsea in pre-season friendly dates with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan ahead of a 2025-26 Premier League opener at home to Crystal Palace on August 17.