Despite a disappointing 2023/24 season, Chelsea look set to double down on their extreme investment in young talent in the transfer market with the signing of Estêvão Willian. The young Brazilian winger is one of the most highly-rated talents to emerge in the Série A’s recent history, so at least this could be money well-spent by the Blues.
By Neel Shelat
Having only turned 17 years old in April, Estêvão will still spend the best part of a year in Brazil before moving to Europe. His deal with Chelsea is reportedly all but official with a base fee of at least €34 million rising close to €60 million with performance-based add-ons. With that, he will compete with fellow attacking starlet Endrick to become Palmeiras’ record sale.
Naturally, there have been a fair few comparisons drawn between the pair, but those are quite unfair, in truth. Endrick is almost a year older and more of a centre-forward, whereas Estêvão has almost solely operated as an out-and-out right winger for the senior side.
He made his professional debut four months before his 17th birthday, becoming one of the youngest-ever players in the club’s history. Prior to that and indeed after it, he continued to shine for their illustrious youth teams in various competitions, and also starred for Brazil at the last FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2023.
Estêvão spent most of his younger days playing with elder peers and looks set to continue on that trajectory having already established himself as a regular starter for Abel Ferreira’s side. At the time of writing, he has started each of their last nine games across all competitions, including half of their Copa Libertadores group stage campaign.
He already has three goals and two assists to his name in the Brasileirão, with more sure to come. The most impressive part of his breakthrough is that he has objectively been one of the eye-catching players in the league this season even without factoring his age into the equation. In fact, he leads the way in the division in terms of shot-creating take-ons.
That very much is the hallmark of his game – taking defenders on. Indeed, his wizard-like close control and mazy dribbling ability earned him the ‘Messinho’ nickname back in his Cruzeiro academy days, though he is said to not be a fan of it. Ultimately, though, references to the Argentine great are almost unavoidable when describing a diminutive left-footed right winger of such world-beating potential.
Quite simply, Estêvão is a relentless dribbler. He has averaged an incredible 3.10 successful dribbles per 90 in the league so far this season thanks to his tendency to start very wide and receive the ball in isolation with the opposition full-back. His overall passing numbers may not be very high, but that is because he tends to try and get as close to goal as possible.
Estêvão’s dribble success rate might not look great but context is key to understanding it. For one, it is very important to remember that he is a lean 17-year-old who can easily get outmuscled in senior football, at the moment, though that will change as his physicality develops. More importantly, he is a very high-risk dribbler who looks to drive straight at defenders and twist them inside out with flashy flicks and tricks and rapid direction changes, often looking to wriggle past multiple opponents in one move. Of course, this will result in him being stopped a fair few times, but it also has the potential to be quite spectacular when it comes off.
What is perhaps most impressive about Estêvão given his age is the fact that he already is very composed and mature in his decision-making. There have been countless exciting dribbly young wingers in the Brazilian league over the years, but what sets potential superstars apart is their attacking output. Estêvão has shown good potential in that respect thanks to his ability to complete the final action with either foot, though he certainly favours chopping inside and shooting with his left.
He certainly is not shot-shy, so this is what a typical Estêvão shotmap will probably look like.
Such high-volume shooting from range is not always encouraged by top clubs in Europe but Chelsea must be willing to make an exception for Estêvão. On watching him, it should be easy to see that he can pack real power behind his shots and place them very well with a variety of techniques.
All things considered, Estêvão easily is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in Brazil of late. The fact that he can become a regular starter for one of the country’s biggest clubs right after turning 17 says a lot about his quality, maturity and potential, but he still has a long road ahead of him. He might not yet be ready for a top Premier League club like Chelsea, but that could easily change in a year’s time if he stays on his current developmental trajectory.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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