“It’s now closed”- Journo claims Real Madrid have won the race for teenage Chelsea target

Chelsea dealt a blow as transfer target Endrick agrees deal with Real Madrid

According to a tweet from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (h/t Football.London) European champions Real Madrid have reached a full verbal agreement to sign Chelsea target and Brazilian wonderkid Endrick.

Madrid will pay a transfer fee of €60m, with €12m additional on taxes. Since the player is currently 16 and the rule says he cannot join any European club before turning 18, he will only become their official player in June 2024.

It is also understood that a six-year contract is agreed upon between all parties. So, the 16-year-old will have a contract with Los Blancos until the summer of 2030.

This would come as a blow for Chelsea as they were invested in this race to sign Endrick. A few weeks ago, Evening Standard reported that it was them who led the race to sign him.

It was also revealed that the club invited the player’s parents and representatives to show them around Cobham training centre and get them to meet Brazil legend, Thiago Silva.

The Palmeiras wonderkid is already an excellent striker who has burst through the scene in Brazil. He became the youngest player in the club’s history to make a senior debut. In 306 minutes of senior football, he scored three goals and assisted one.

During the summer transfer window, which was the club’s first under the new regime of Todd Boehly and co, Chelsea did not hesitate in spending big on signing top young talents to improve the level of youth teams and also increase the competition for places in the senior team. It was part of Boehly’s ‘Vision 2030‘ plan.

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Signing Endrick would have fit that bill and more. Knowing he can only join in the summer of 2024, the teenager would have gained more first-team experience at Palmeiras. By doing so, he could have come and straightaway challenged for a spot in the senior team. But, that is not to happen now, much to our disappointment.