Joao Pedro is Off to Brighton 'B'

The Guardian (Jacob Steinberg) - original article

Chelsea have once again raided their favourite talent agency, also known as Brighton, reaching an agreement to sign João Pedro. The Brazilian forward was reportedly on Newcastle’s radar, but like every good Brighton player these days, his GPS only had one destination: Stamford Bridge.

Negotiations escalated over the weekend, ending with Chelsea forking out over £50 million, or, as they call it, the Brighton Loyalty Tax. Brighton were holding firm for £60 million, possibly because they assumed Chelsea’s bank account was still open and unmonitored.

Pedro, the latest installment in Chelsea’s unofficial "Seagulls to Chelsea" pipeline, will sign a seven-year deal, because nothing says commitment like a long contract. He’s flying in from Brazil for a medical in the US, where Chelsea are presumably scouting Brighton’s next target at the beach.

He’s expected to join the squad just in time for the Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras.