Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says new winger Estevao “can play anywhere” in attack and “anything can happen” over a potential exit for striker Nicolas Jackson.
The 17-year-old joined his new teammates on Tuesday after the Blues paid Palmeiras an initial £29 million, potentially rising to more than £50m.
“In our five attacking positions he can play outside, inside and everywhere,” explained Maresca.
“He’s so good. It’s like Cole [Palmer], in terms of position. He needs to adapt and hopefully we can give him minutes so he’s even more happy.”
Welcome to the World Champions, Estevao! ✨🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/XzS6yjKEo3
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 5, 2025
Estevao: Chelsea offer ‘no pressure’
Maresca met Estevao, who is already a senior Brazil international, for the first time when Chelsea beat Palmeiras 2-1 in the 2025 Club World Cup quarter-finals on their way to winning the competition in the US, the prodigy equalising after Palmer had opened the scoring.
Palmer has become Chelsea’s talisman while top-scoring for them during each of his two seasons at the club, although Maresca is wary of expecting such an immediate impact from Estevao.
“He’s a fantastic player,” said Maresca. “He’s a happy boy – always laughing, which is typical for a Brazilian guy.
“We need to pay a little bit more attention because he’s from another part of the world and very, very young.
“He’s not under pressure. We’ll give him happiness and time. The biggest mistake we can make with him is to put him under pressure.”
Nicolas Jackson: Transfer window uncertainty
Aside from Palmer, Senegal international Jackson is the only Chelsea player to have reached double figures in the Premier League in 2023/24 and 2024/25, but the 24-year-old is being linked with Newcastle, who will urgently need to replace key forward Alexander Isak if Liverpool succeed in securing the Sweden striker.
Jackson is under contract until 2033 but Maresca acknowledged his future is uncertain and suggested he is hopeful that squad exiles including forward Raheem Sterling and full-back Ben Chilwell will find suitors imminently.
“When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen,” acknowledged the Italian.
“That also involves Nico’s situation. Raheem, Chilwell, they are training and I guess they are waiting for a solution.
“When they leave, the club just text me or call me. I get the news from the club because I don’t pay attention to the players who are training and need to leave. I just focus on how we prepare sessions and win games.”
Levi Colwill injury
Maresca voiced his concern over an injury sustained by first-choice defender Levi Colwill during Chelsea’s first pre-season training day as a full squad on Monday.
Colwill is being assessed after suffering the problem late in the session, which took place less than a month after their win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final.
The first of Chelsea’s two home pre-season friendlies is against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday (19:00 BST / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT), preceding a game with Milan on Sunday (15:00 BST / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT).
When does Chelsea’s 2025/26 Premier League season start and end?
Having qualified for the Champions League on the final day in 2024/25, Chelsea take on FA Cup winners Palace on the opening matchweek of the 2025/26 season.
The game at Stamford Bridge is at 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 06:00 ET on Sunday, August 17 and is live on Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra in the UK.
The last round of matches will all start at the same time on May 24 2026. No rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no fixture on December 24.
