Chelsea's under-the-radar signing of Andrey Santos could be a gem as the Brazilian midfielder has starred at the Under 20 Championship, drawing comparisons to Jude Bellingham
- Santos arrived at Chelsea in an £18million summer deal from Vasco de Gama
- The 18-year-old midfielder could turn out to be a bargain of a signing
- He is tall, athletic, and has been labelled as a 'monster' when on the pitch
Andrey Santos, the second signing of Chelsea's relentless January splurge, has since taken the South America Under-20 championship by storm.
Santos, an 18-year-old midfielder, scored against Ecuador on Tuesday, as his new club were setting a new British transfer record to sign another midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
It was his fourth goal in the tournament in Colombia, where his performances are starting to make the £18million fee paid to Rio giants Vasco de Gama look like a shrewd acquisitions.
He is tall and athletic, and covers the pitch, gets forward into the penalty box, creating and threating the goal, in a style compared to England's own teenage sensation Jude Bellingham.
'Physically, he's a monster,' said Juninho Pernambucano, the former Brazil midfielder, on podcast 'Resenha Loading'. 'Without the ball, his participation in the game is total. He doesn't stop. And, technically, he's way above the others.
![Brazil Under 20s midfielder Andrey Santos has starred at the South American championship](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/01/22/67228039-0-image-a-1_1675291684448.jpg)
Brazil Under 20s midfielder Andrey Santos has starred at the South American championship
![The 18-year-old's arrival at Chelsea largely went under the radar amid a flurry of January deals](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/01/22/67228043-0-image-a-2_1675291691027.jpg)
The 18-year-old's arrival at Chelsea largely went under the radar amid a flurry of January deals
![The midfielder signs his contract alongside his agents Fabio Menezes (left), Flavio Chaves (right) and Paulo Rocha (above)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/10/67245043-11703331-image-a-1_1675333448965.jpg)
The midfielder signs his contract alongside his agents Fabio Menezes (left), Flavio Chaves (right) and Paulo Rocha (above)
'He's not going to be better than me he's going to be much better than me. He is a much more complete player. At 18, I didn't play half as much as he does, I'm not ashamed to say that.'
Chelsea beat Manchester City and Newcastle to the deal, after making initial contact with Vasco in November, and meeting Santos and his representatives for the first time during the World Cup break in Qatar.
The deal was put together quickly, a process made easier by the close working relationship between the London club and his agents at the Bertolucci Sports.
Graham Potter impressed the teenager when he spoke personally to him about the role he could play in Chelsea's ambitious plans under the new owners, but Santos is not eligible for a work permit and must appeal for an exemption to the rules.
His performances in Colombia will only help his case as Potter tries to integrate him as soon as possible.
![Santos had caught the eyes of numerous clubs but decided to join Chelsea in January](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/01/22/67227981-0-image-a-5_1675291936973.jpg)
Santos had caught the eyes of numerous clubs but decided to join Chelsea in January
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