Chelsea beat Barcelona to sign £15m-rated winger

The Blues are set to add a new teenage forward to their ranks.

Chelsea have reportedly secured the signing of Brazilian wonderkid Angelo Gabriel from Santos, outbidding Barcelona for the talented winger. According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea made a substantial offer of £15 million to secure Gabriel’s services, successfully trumping Barcelona’s interest.

Gabriel, just 18 years old, has already made a remarkable 129 appearances for Santos, catching the attention of top European clubs with his performances. Drawing comparisons to Brazilian icon Neymar, who also rose through the ranks of Santos, Gabriel’s potential has been highly regarded within the football community.

Barcelona had been monitoring Gabriel for some time, even acquiring the right of first refusal and a preferential purchase option earlier this year. However, due to their financial constraints, the Catalan club ultimately decided against exercising the option, leaving the path clear for Chelsea to swoop in.

Santos, facing financial difficulties themselves, were willing to part ways with their prized asset at a reduced price. The deal is expected to be finalized, with Gabriel set to begin his pre-season training with Chelsea before potentially being sent out on loan.

Primarily a right winger, Gabriel is also versatile enough to operate on the left flank. With five goals and 10 assists to his name at Santos, the young Brazilian has demonstrated his attacking prowess. His inclusion in the Chelsea squad for a relatively modest fee has the potential to pay dividends in the long run.

Chelsea have been proactive in the current transfer window, securing the signings of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig for £52 million and Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle for £17.27 million. Additionally, the club have allowed Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech and N’Golo Kante to depart for Saudi Arabia, while there are ongoing discussions regarding the potential sales of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount.