Andrey Santos is returning to Chelsea after a hugely successful loan to fight for a spot in a very competitive part of the squad.
Andrey Santos, 21, was the pick of the players that Chelsea loaned out during the 2024/25 season. He was a key individual for Strasbourg in France, scoring 11 goals and creating five assists in 34 games across all competitions.
The Brazilian midfielder will now be hoping to impress for the Blues in this summer’s Club World Cup tournament before establishing himself at Stamford Bridge in the 2025/26 campaign.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has shared his excitement about watching Santos at the upcoming Club World Cup competition.
For the versatile midfielder, his aim must be to impress Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca at every opportunity. He will be competing in the Blues squad for minutes alongside midfield stars such as Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and new signing Dario Essugo.
Andrey Santos names his ‘best’ position
Spanish publication AS has released an insightful interview with Chelsea youngster Santos on Wednesday.
During the lengthy conversation, the Brazilian talent outlined his plan to stay at Chelsea and become a success. In addition, Blues supporters will really enjoy hearing him explain his “best” position is as a deep-lying midfielder, but he’s more than happy operating in a box-to-box role.
When asked for his best position, Santos replied: “I can play both as a 5 and as an 8, but I’m at my best playing as a 5, as a midfielder. I feel most comfortable. But of course, if the coach says I should play as a 8, a 5, or even a goalkeeper, I’ll do it.
“I always want to help the team and the coach. I want to be prepared to understand all the roles of the outfield players in order to play. Of course, I also like to get into the box to score.”
Chelsea fans will find it interesting that Santos prefers playing deeper because a lot of his success with Strasbourg came with box-to-box runs and attacking contributions.
On paper, he’s got the defensive tools and physicality to quickly settle into the Premier League with the Blues if he gets enough chances. We suspect it may be a bit tougher nailing down a permanent starting position in the role, though.
Barcelona were gutted Chelsea beat them to Santos when he moved clubs in 2023. If he gets enough time, we’re confident the South American rising star can justify the hype and fulfil his immense potential in West London.
Chelsea’s midfield depth for the 2025/26 season is shaping up to be as good as we’ve seen at Stamford Bridge in a very long time.
Andrey Santos hugely appreciates the Chelsea fans
In the AS interview, Santos delivered a heartfelt message when speaking about the appreciation he’s received from Chelsea fans.
The Chelsea midfielder said: “All the love you’ve sent me is so wonderful. Even before I signed for Chelsea, ever since the news broke that there was a chance of me joining them, you’ve always encouraged me and treated me so well.
“There’s little to say about this season. Every game, every photo I saw… you’ve always sent me messages of love. You’ve said I should come home. It’s so nice to feel supported. I’m really looking forward to representing Chelsea.”
It’s quite obvious that he’s got the backing of the fanbase, who have waited patiently while he’s grown in Strasbourg colours. Can he now match their enthusiasm next season?
