Arriving at Chelsea from Brighton in the summer of 2025, João Pedro quickly established himself as one of the club’s most intriguing attacking players. At just 23 years old when he arrived, the Brazilian already had significant Premier League experience and, above all, an especially complete profile. Capable of playing as a center forward, left winger or attacking midfielder, he does not fit the traditional image of a No. 9 who constantly stays inside the box.
An attacker who loves to get involved in the game
João Pedro’s first major characteristic is his ability to move away from his center-forward position. While some strikers primarily look to attack the space behind the defense or stay inside the penalty area, the Brazilian likes to drop deeper to receive the ball, move toward the wings and contribute to the construction of attacks.
His profile therefore bears similarities to Roberto Firmino. Like the former Liverpool striker, João Pedro can leave the central area to create connections with his teammates before returning into the box at the right moment. This freedom allows him to receive the ball facing forward and make the most of his passing ability.
This technical quality is particularly visible in his forward passing. João Pedro knows how to find openings between the lines and possesses an excellent ability to operate in tight spaces.
But his influence goes beyond passing. The Brazilian is also an excellent ball carrier and does not rely solely on his pace: his changes of direction, body feints and control in tight spaces allow him to beat opponents.
This ability to drop deep, combine and progress with the ball therefore gives Chelsea an attacker capable of contributing to almost every phase of the attack.
A threat capable of changing big games
While João Pedro possesses such a broad technical skill set, the most important thing should not be forgotten: he can also score. His finishing ability is even one of his main strengths.
During his final season at Brighton, he scored 10 Premier League goals from a total of 8.8 expected goals, evidence of an ability to convert difficult chances. His finishing is enhanced by a great deal of composure inside the box. João Pedro does not always rush when he finds himself in front of goal: he can take an extra fraction of a second to choose the best option.
This characteristic explains some of his particularly spectacular goals. The Brazilian possesses a varied finishing range, capable of striking with power but also choosing precision or technical finishes. His chipped finishes against Leeds, Aston Villa and Fulham a week ago are evidence of this. He is also extremely reliable from the penalty spot, with 18 successful attempts from 19 before joining Chelsea, although penalties at the Blues are taken by Cole Palmer.
But what truly sets João Pedro apart may be his influence in important games. Before joining Chelsea, he had already scored nine goals and provided three assists in 28 appearances against “Big Six” teams. Those numbers are even more impressive considering that many of these performances came while playing for less dominant teams.
His adaptation to Chelsea confirmed this trend. In March 2026, he produced one of his most impressive performances with a hat-trick against Aston Villa in a 4-1 victory. He had then taken his tally to 14 Premier League goals and 17 goals in all competitions, while also adding seven league assists. The BBC highlighted his ability to lead Chelsea’s attack and compared his impact to Diego Costa’s during the 2016-17 season.
His influence is not limited to goals, either. Against Aston Villa, João Pedro was constantly available, aggressive with his movements and capable of contributing to different attacking phases. His performance against Leeds in the FA Cup semifinal also showed that, even without scoring, João Pedro’s ability to make himself available can help Chelsea’s play flow more smoothly. He played a dangerous pass to Neto, putting him in a position to cross for Enzo Fernández, who finished the move. It perfectly illustrates what Chelsea can look for in a modern attacker: a player capable of creating for others while also being the team’s main threat.
The ideal profile for a more vertical Chelsea
João Pedro’s greatest strength ultimately lies in his ability to adapt to different styles of play. Under Enzo Maresca, his profile was initially expected to fit into a team that favored possession and structured attacks. This approach could have allowed him to see plenty of the ball and exploit his technical quality, although it could also have limited his freedom of movement.
João Pedro, however, possesses another particularly valuable quality: his work without the ball. He is capable of pressing high, closing passing lanes and actively contributing to regaining possession. In 2024-25, he was notably among the players making the most interceptions in the final third per 90 minutes.
This characteristic has become even more important in Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea. From the beginning of the 2026-27 season, the Blues have displayed a much more vertical and aggressive approach, relying more heavily on transitions and pressing. In the 3-2 victory over Fulham, João Pedro perfectly illustrated this evolution by opening the scoring after just 31 seconds, finishing off a transition initiated by Chelsea winning the ball back and progressing forward quickly.
His goal perfectly illustrates his intelligence in his movement. As Cole Palmer wins the ball in the space behind Fulham’s midfield, João Pedro immediately attacks the space between the center backs. The Brazilian then remains composed enough to chip the ball over Bernd Leno.
He is therefore a particularly well-suited profile for a team that wants to win the ball high up the pitch and attack quickly. His ability to drop deep can also draw defenders out of position, while his off-ball movement then allows him to attack the spaces that have been created.
There is, however, one area where João Pedro still needs to improve: consistency. Despite stretches in which he can look almost impossible to stop, the Brazilian has also gone through less convincing periods. He went without scoring for two months at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. His talent is undeniable, but Chelsea now expects him to turn his flashes of brilliance into consistent performances across an entire season.
That is probably the final step separating João Pedro from becoming a true Premier League star. Because everything else is already there: technique, creativity, versatility, finishing, character and the ability to deliver when the pressure increases. At Chelsea, the Brazilian now has an environment and teammates capable of maximizing all of those qualities. If he can become more consistent, João Pedro can become much more than simply a good attacker: he can become the face of the Blues’ new attack.
Chelsea
Joao Pedro