Former England striker Alan Shearer has praised Chelsea’s acquisition of Joao Pedro, calling it a “clever signing” as Enzo Maresca continues to reshape his squad in a busy summer transfer window. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward joined the Blues from Brighton in a £55 million deal and made his debut during Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Palmeiras in the Club World Cup, coming off the bench to replace fellow new signing Liam Delap.
Despite concerns over Chelsea’s bloated squad in recent seasons, Shearer noted that the signing of Pedro adds necessary depth, especially with the club expected to compete on multiple fronts in the 2024/25 season.
“Pedro is a clever addition,” Shearer said. “With the number of competitions Chelsea are in, they’ll need every quality player they can get. Yes, the squad is big, but they still had gaps, particularly up front.”
Pedro’s versatility and Premier League experience make him an important asset for Maresca, who is tasked with fine-tuning a large and evolving squad. The Italian manager was open last season about his strict selection policy, working with a core group of 21–23 players to maintain balance and cohesion. “It is impossible for any manager in the world to make a session with 45 players,” Maresca stated.
Chelsea’s front line struggled for consistency last term, relying heavily on Nicolas Jackson, whose form was inconsistent. The arrivals of Pedro and Delap are seen as critical to alleviating that pressure. With Reece James injured and both Delap and Levi Colwill suspended for the upcoming Club World Cup semi-final against Fluminense, Chelsea’s squad depth will be put to the test immediately.
Pedro’s debut showed glimpses of what he can offer, and with Chelsea also adding youngsters Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr to the mix, the club is clearly planning for both the present and future. As Shearer emphasized, while Chelsea must still trim their squad, their transfer business so far demonstrates smarter, more strategic thinking something the pundit believes could pay off in the coming season.
